Henri Tomei, a 64-year-old male of French descent, was tragically murdered on November 2, 1972, in Los Gatos, California. Tomei, who served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary's Catholic Church, was attacked inside the church's confessional. The assailant, described as a young Caucasian male between 5'10' and 6'0' tall, brutally stabbed, kicked, and beat Tomei, leaving him to bleed to death across the threshold of the confessional booth.
The attack occurred in the early evening hours,
shortly after Tomei had entered the church to see if any parishioners were present for confession. A witness, a female parishioner, reported seeing the suspect kicking Tomei before she ran to summon another priest. By the time help arrived, Tomei was motionless, and despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at Los Gatos Community Hospital.
Authorities struggled to determine a motive for the crime, and the investigation initially appeared to be at a standstill. No murder weapon was found, and the suspect's method of escape remained undetermined. However, later developments linked the crime to Herbert Mullin, a delusional serial killer who believed he needed to commit murders to prevent earthquakes in California. Mullin had gone to the church to confess his sins but, in his disturbed state, convinced himself that Tomei wanted to be his next sacrificial victim. This belief led Mullin to carry out the brutal attack.
Mullin was eventually arrested and charged with multiple murders, including that of Tomei. His crimes contributed to a wave of terror in Santa Cruz and surrounding areas during the early 1970s, a period when multiple serial killers operated in the region. The murder of Tomei, a respected clergyman, shocked the local community, and his funeral services were held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, attended by grieving parishioners and clergy members.
