In the quiet town of Toquerville, Utah, the life of Geraldine "Geri" Bommarito, a 58-year-old Caucasian female, was tragically cut short on March 19, 2014. A former vice president of convention sales at the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas, she had moved to the small Utah town and started her own all-natural cosmetic soaps and scrubs business called Sicilian Secret. Neighbors described her as a kind and quiet person who was excited about growing her business.
She was a woman of many passions, with a deep appreciation for art, history, particularly the Renaissance era, and film. She was also a devoted family member, having previously left her career to care for her ailing mother and sister.
The events leading to her death began to unfold just after midnight on March 19th, when Washington County sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a burglary at a home in Toquerville where guns had been stolen. In a separate incident, a tipster later alerted authorities to a young man fueling a car that was registered to Bommarito. When deputies went to her home to investigate, they discovered her body; she had been shot at least once. Her stolen vehicle was later found burned in a remote area near Springdale.
The investigation quickly focused on a 17-year-old neighbor, Joshua David Canfield. He had a brief interaction with deputies after the initial burglary report but had fled on foot. Canfield was located and taken into custody in Springdale later that day. Authorities learned that he knew Bommarito, though they were not related. Canfield was subsequently charged as an adult with murder, aggravated robbery, and several other felonies.
The legal proceedings that followed were complex. In May 2015, Canfield was found incompetent to stand trial and was sent to the Utah State Hospital for treatment. By January 2016, his competency was restored, and he pleaded guilty to the murder and aggravated robbery of Geraldine Bommarito. His attorney stated that Canfield had been in a haze of drugs and depression and had attempted suicide just days before the murder. On the day of the crime spree, he shot and killed Bommarito in her home, stole and burned her car, and fought with arresting officers. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors recommended that his sentences for the various charges run concurrently. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison and will have his first parole hearing in July 2034.
