Brawley husband convicted of murder
Adrik Vargas
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A Brawley man convicted of killing his wife could be sentenced to life in prison later this month.
Rodrigo Flores Gomez, 38, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the 2024 killing of his wife, 36-year-old Sandy Fabela.
According to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office, Gomez strangled Fabela inside their home in Brawley last April.
Investigators say he later moved her body to a parked car and eventually admitted to the killing.
“Prosecution is gonna argue that this man should never see the light of day again, life without the possibility of parole, which is what we’re going for and what he deserves,” said Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez.
The case brought to light 16 years of abuse, a restraining order that was never served, and a threat made just one day before the killing.
“The facts of this case are egregious, they’re egregious. The fact that he did this in the home where she lived with her family. At the end of the day, she was a woman trying to protect her family, she didn’t want drug use in her home,” Marquez added.
Just a month before the murder, Fabela’s daughter submitted a written declaration saying she feared her father would kill her mother.
“There are indicators of domestic violence in advance,” Marquez said. “Psychological, coercive control over someone’s life, violence, patterns of control, those things are indicators of domestic violence.”
He added that taking action when those signs appear can make a difference.
“In this case you look at the mother, she left three kids behind, a three-year-old, a seven-year-old, and a 16-year-old, and they don’t even have a father,” they said.
Gomez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22 at the El Centro Courthouse.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are local resources ready to help.
Sure Helpline Crisis Center in El Centro offers confidential support, crisis intervention, and emergency shelter services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. They also provide advocacy and referrals to additional support services. The link to their website is here.
WomanHaven Center for Family Solutions, also based in El Centro, supports individuals and families affected by domestic violence through emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and prevention education. Find more about their services here.