In a city awash with domestic violence incidents, as we report in our Daily Santa Ana Crime Reports, an incident on October 5, 2013, stands out.
Anthony Angel Gomez, who was 31 years old, died after he was badly injured during an incident involving his wife, Paulina Lugo Gomez. They were separated at the time. On the day in question they were having an argument, at 10th and Lowell Street, when Paulina took off in a vehicle and Anthony reportedy tried to jump onto it. He fell and ended up with severe head trauma.
Anthony’s family is looking for answers. They believe that Paulina was behind the wheel and their two minor children were present at the time. But no other witnesses have stepped up.
The Santa Ana Police Department was called that day at 3:29 pm and at 5:30 Anthony was transported to Western Medical Center where he later died on Oct. 12, 2013.
Anthony’s family, which resides in Riverside, was not notified of the incident until two days later on the night of Oct. 7. When they arrived at Western Medical Center, in Santa Ana, they were informed that Anthony was a John Doe and no one had came to visit him since the incident.
Anthony’s parents, sisters and family members stayed at the hospital 24/7, hoping and praying that Anthony would awake from his coma. They went to the SAPD onOct. 9, 2013, to seek answers on why no one was arrested after the incident. Domestic violence detectives informed them that the case still had not been assigned to a specific detective and that the report still had not been typed up. They also said that sometimes when police are called out to domestic violence calls they do not treat the case seriously and sometimes produce lackluster reports, which is when the detectives step up.
On oct. 11, 2013, Anthony’s family was notified that his recovery had taken a turn for the worse. The family then notified the Domestic Violence detectives at the SAPD and they were advised the case had just been opened and that Paulina needed to be questioned but since Anthony was likely to pass away, the detective said that she would need to transfer the case to Homicide.
On Oct. 14, the family spoke to a Homicide detective and they were informed that Paulina still had not been questioned but she had obtained a lawyer and would be coming in to give a statement.
On Oct. 16 they were informed that due to very limited evidence the District Attorney will not be pursuing murder charges as per Detective Leo Ramirez. The family was informed on Oct. 17 that the case would be transferred over to the traffic division.
The family called the traffic division on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013, to seek answers on why there had been no arrest. The family feels that someone needs to be charges with foul play, manslaughter, or driving without a license. They contend that something is wrong with the story and with the Santa Ana P.D.
Anthony’s sister wonders if the story was turned around and Anthony was driving, would he have been detained immediatly? And why did it take nine days to get a statement from the prime suspect? And why was Paulina drving when she did not have a drivers license?
His sister noted that past records show that Paulina and Anthony have been arguing for many years, and that back in 2012 he went to the Family Court and got a temporary restraining order against Paulina. She says that they have pictures of scratches she left him. And she says that Anthony tried a number of times to move on with his life and to be happy but every time he tried to move on Paulina would hold his kids back. This was heartbreaking for him as he purportedly “lived for those kids.”
Was this a case of domestic violence against a man or did Paulina flee out of concern for her own well-being? Was it an accident or was hit premeditated? There are a lot of questions but no answers. If you saw something that day, Anthony’s family encourages you to remember that anonymous tips may be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCC (855-847-6227) or at www.occrimestoppers.org.
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R.I.P i know your in heaven its sad to know that your the mother of your children took your life away when you had to so much to give. And you were full of life not only that she getting away with it but guilt will eat her away and karma is a bitch onlygod knows what you did :(
R.I.P i know your in heaven its sad to know that the mother of children took your life away when you had your life ahead of you . What goes around comes around. I know you watching your children and the people who love you
You were a very good person R.I.P Anthony I pray justice is served !!!
Such a tragedy. I pray for Anthony and his family that someone will step up with information that will shed light to what happen and why the life of a young loving man was taken. To give closure and the justice deserved.
She has not only taken the life of a great guy but is getting away with it because of lies. She took two days away from his family... thats two more days that they could have had with him. That's two more days she had to figure out her story.
My heart goes out to the family. May Anthony RIP.
To my nephew Michael and Andrew and my niece Reanna.... I'm sorry that you and the rest of the family have lost your uncle Anthony. I love you guys and I'm sending hugs and prayers to you and the family. Love Aunt Lil
I know Anthony and his family. He was a good person that didnt deserve this. If she doesn't pay for her sins in this life she will in her next. One day she'll have to explain to her kids how she killed their Daddy. If she had nothing to hide she would have told his family. If she had nothing to hide she would have been by his side at the hospital and he would have never been admitted as a John Doe. At least that's what I would do for my daughter's father...separated or not. If the rolls were reversed he'd be locked up already. I'm sorry Gomez family.
At this point the problem is with the Santa Ana police and whether or not they did their due diligence with this investigation. It sounds as though the details are being brushed under the rug in hopes that it will just go away. Thank you to the New Santa Ana for its efforts in bringing out the issue...now it might be time for other news organizations to get involved. At the very least, this incident happened with an illegal, non-licensed driver. Isn't there any consequence for that Santa Ana PD?
I think the family should also post everything he has done like using drugs hitting his wife. You say john doe? She called the paramedics and they took him to the hospital how is that possible. How about his family saying threating things to her ect. MAY I REMIND YOU SHE PAID FOR THE FUNERAL. And you say her cheating? Wow and he never cheated on her? Mmmmm interesting but anyways I hope they publish everything about both of them. IT WAS AN ACCIDENT THATS WHAT DRUGS do to you makes you wanna jump in front of a moving vehicle ask the paramedics they said he's on something he won't let us help him he was fighting with them...
im sorry, but "smile" who in the heck are you? Obviously someone who knows Alex "Paulina" in this manner. But whatever negative you have to say about someone doesn't need to be heard. you where not there nor was anybody else as we could see. No body is an angel and by all means family and friends knew Anthony was far from one, but doesn't mean his life should have been taken. So you're saying you knew for a fact that she was the one who called the paramedics? Then why was it that she was not by his side from the ambulance ride to the day he was pronounced dead? where you the first ones there to visit him and had to fight with the security guard because they did not have an Anthony Gomez they had a "John Doe?" i dont think so. If she is feeding you this bullshit you are dumb for believing in it because she is making you look real stupid. And im sorry, but if someone "accidentally" ran over your family member would you not put out a threat? No one threaten anybody for the fact she was protected by the security. she wasn't so big and bad with out her car was she? Oh and for the funeral. really? That devil didnt even have a funeral for him she got him cremated because it was "cheaper". We as a family raised money to give my brother a proper service. I agree with you that not one of them is innocent, but you do not have one right to put bullshit out there like you knew the truth. But we don't owe you any explanation to what happen BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW SHIT!! SO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!! AND LET THAT "FRIEND" OF YOURS CONTINUE TO FEED YOU BULLS* and become that follower she is proclaiming you to be.
at least thats what is going around the social media.. if she quilty i hope he gets justice but if it was an accident let him rest in peace. my prayers are to his family and to anyone hurting by this.
She ran him over 3 times?? WTF if she had her kids in the car im guessing they took statement from the kids right?? The kids dont lie and if what the children said in there statement is the reason why no crime charges are being charged.. RIght??? just saying
wtf? sweetie i dont know who you are , but you need to stop listening to her lying ass. like i said before you dont know anything so keep your mouth shut. No on cares about if he or she was on drugs, if the kids where in the car. we are trying to call out the SAPD for their lack of job skills. why was it Paulina had a lawyer before she msg me to tell me my brother is in a coma? why is it the police didnt take her statement first? you would think, she was there at the time of the incident right? Tell me why my nephews story was the exact same as his mothers and my niece didn't have a statement? tell me why if you know everything? because my family is grieving in pain to know the truth. *just saying*
And for the justice we are seeking, yes would be to put her away because i think everyone would agree that if he even verbally threaten to hit her with his car his ass would have been locked up for threaten assault. My brother was a man! he took care of his kids and never called the cops on that spec.
oh one more thing that comes to mind. did she tell you she took his clothes and money from the hospital and then went to his job and collected his last check? i doubt it1
you "smile" piss me off!
Why if she's so innocent did she change the tires of her car right after running over her boyfriend? Have you ever ask the police that ? And come on a person that has two restraining orders on her she doesn't sound like a very nice person.
Innocent until proven guilty
She is going straight to hell for what she did
It's called getting away with murder!!!!!!
just think, under all the fake smiles and make up is a sad disturbed little girl. i really feel sorry for her, and the kids who have to deal with the psycho
.
Lexi Lugo as you call your self on Facebook I know your a evil girl who thinks they got away with what you did but sorry you didn't god know what you did and your going to hell!!!!!!!