Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives from the Monterey County Cold Case Task Force have identified a suspect in the 1982 murder of Cruz Gomez, owner of the Dos Reyes Night Club in Salinas. The case, which remained unsolved for over four decades, saw new developments after advances in DNA technology and renewed investigative efforts.
On April 10, 1982, Gomez was found dead on Williams Road near Old Stage Road in an unincorporated area of Monterey County. A security guard discovered his body while checking gates at local farm properties. Investigators determined that Gomez had been beaten and killed elsewhere before being left at the scene.
Early leads pointed to Saul Ramirez and another individual as suspects, both of whom were seen at Dos Reyes Night Club shortly before Gomez departed. Despite interviews, search warrants, and evidence collection—including blood evidence found in a motorhome belonging to Ramirez—authorities could not file charges at that time due to limitations in forensic technology.
Recent public tips led investigators back to the case. Using modern DNA analysis on evidence collected from the motorhome at Mission El Dorado camp in Huron, California, detectives gathered enough information to move forward with charges.
On February 27, 2026, detectives filed a detainer against Saul Ramirez for the murder of Cruz Gomez. Ramirez is currently held at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility on unrelated charges. The case will be presented to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of murder charges.
Sheriff Nieto commented: “The Sheriff’s Office has a relentless commitment to solving all cold cases throughout Monterey County’s history. The cold case detectives are driven by a desire to provide closure for families and to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
Community members with information about this investigation are encouraged to contact Detective Richard Geng or Detective Sergeant Nicholas Kennedy at the numbers provided by the sheriff’s office.
