Clifton Bloomfield
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (March 2024) |
Clifton Bloomfield | |
|---|---|
 Bloomfield's 2006 mugshot | |
| Born | Clifton Duane Bloomfield March 1969 (age 55) Kingman, Arizona, U.S. |
| Conviction(s) | First degree murder (5 counts) Conspiracy to commit first degree murder Aggravated robbery Aggravated burglary (2 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | 5 life terms plus 45 years |
| Details | |
| Victims | 5 |
Span of crimes | 2005–2008 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | New Mexico |
Date apprehended | July 1, 2008 |
Clifton Duane Bloomfield (born March 1969) is an American serial killer and former movie extra who was convicted of murdering five people around Albuquerque, New Mexico, between 2005 and 2008. In the midst of his murders, Bloomfield made an appearance as a background character in the movie Felon (2008).[1]
Early life
[edit]Clifton Duane Bloomfield was raised in Kingman, Arizona.[2] His earliest known encounter with the law came in 1979, when, after a BB gun incident, a judge ordered him to be on probation until his 18th birthday and to enroll at a children's home in Tucson.[2] After his release, he returned home to his parents. Regarded as a bully, Bloomfield's parents forced him to go to mental health clinics every day and gave him mesoridazine, a drug to treat schizophrenia. Bloomfield's criminal habits nevertheless continued, and at age 13, he stole a motorcycle and later broke into a church.[2] In 1989, Bloomfield and his sister went on a crime spree in Phoenix, which consequently netted him 14 years in prison. He was released in 2002.[2]
October 2005 murders
[edit]During the night of October 24, 2005, Bloomfield ate at a Fuddruckers restaurant in Albuquerque. After leaving, according to Bloomfield's story of events, 37-year-old Carlos Esquibel approached him and reportedly started to make advances towards him.[3] Bloomfield went along with Esquibel and agreed to go back to Esquibel's apartment along Walter SE.[4] When in Esquibel's bedroom, Bloomfield used Esquibel's shirt to strangle him to death. After the murder, Bloomfield searched through the apartment for valuables. He left soon after, and the body was found hours later by the apartment landlord.[4]
On October 27, Bloomfield reportedly was walking late at night when he noticed the back door of a house slightly ajar. Bloomfield later stated to the police that, "There wasn't anybody moving, so I went in."[5] In the home, he searched through a purse on the kitchen table, but finding that nothing was in there, he continued to look through home. In one of the bedrooms, Bloomfield found jewelry, which he put in his pocket. Soon after, the home's owner, 81-year-old Josephine Selvage, a retired school teacher suffering from Alzheimer's disease,[4] attempted to confront Bloomfield. He overpowered Selvage and strangled her with a piece of clothing.[5] Once Selvage was deceased, Bloomfield kept looking through the home, but eventually left without stealing anything.[5] Since the two murders occurred just days apart and were close to each other, police investigated a possible link, but later incorrectly concluded that the two murders were unrelated.[4]
Hiatus
[edit]Two months after the murders, Bloomfield approached an elderly couple at gunpoint in the village of Los Ranchos and forced them to let him into their garage, where he stole cash.[5] Later that day, he proposed to his girlfriend. Months later, U.S. Marshals arrested Bloomfield in Texas for the Los Ranchos home invasion. He was taken back to New Mexico, and although he initially pledged his innocence, he later pleaded guilty and served 18 months in jail.[5] After his release, he went back to working as a roofer.
After his release, Bloomfield found work as a movie extra. During this time, he appeared as an extra on the set of the movie Felon (2008). When auditioning for the role, Bloomfield also claimed to have worked as an actor on Breaking Bad (2008–2013).[6] No sources have been found to corroborate this claim.
2007–2008 murders
[edit]
Bloomfield resumed killing in December 2007. On December 4, he prowled through the backyard of a home on Avenida la Costa NE and entered the house through the glass sliding door. Inside, the homeowner, 79-year-old Tak Yi, tried to defend himself against Bloomfield, who managed to overpower Tak and beat him to death. Bloomfield also killed Tak's wife, 69-year-old Pung, although he claimed that a friend of his was responsible.[5] Days after the murders of the Yis, police arrested two magazine salesmen for the killings, one of whom confessed. Both were later released from custody after Bloomfield's arrest.[5]
On June 28, 2008, Bloomfield colluded with Jason Skaggs, 35, to kill a man only known as Manny. Bloomfield and Skaggs donned ski masks, vests, and carried shotguns while breaking into the home. Inside, they discovered Katherine Bailey and her husband, 40-year-old nurse Scott Pierce. They mistook Pierce for Manny and killed him.[7]
Arrest
[edit]On July 1, 2008, Bloomfield and Skaggs were arrested for the murder of Scott Pierce. Bloomfield was soon linked to the other crimes via DNA.[8] He pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including five counts of first degree murder, and was sentenced to five life terms plus 45 years.[9] Skaggs pleaded guilty to four charges, including second degree murder and aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, and was sentenced to 30.5 years in prison.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "'Felon' featured real murderer as extra". UPI. March 12, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Life Spent Growing Up in Prison". Albuquerque Journal. April 5, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ T.J. William (April 6, 2009). "CONFESSIONS OF A KILLER". Albuquerque Journal. p. 1. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c d T.J. William (November 4, 2005). "Police: Strangulations Not Related". Albuquerque Journal. p. 1. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g T.J. William (April 6, 2009). "CONFESSIONS OF A KILLER". Albuquerque Journal. p. 3. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ "Convicted Killer an Extra in Val Kilmer Movie". www.abqjournal.com. March 12, 2009. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ "Pair Charged in Shooting Death". Albuquerque Journal. July 25, 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ T.J. William (October 11, 2008). "'Deal With the Devel' Made". Albuquerque Journal. p. 1. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ T.J. William (October 11, 2008). "'Deal With the Devel' Made". Albuquerque Journal. p. 3. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ "United States Courts Opinion: United States District Court for the District of New Mexico: 22-050 - Skaggs v. Santistevan et al. - Document - Gale Academic OneFile Select". go.gale.com. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- 1969 births
- 2005 murders in the United States
- 2007 murders in the United States
- 2008 murders in the United States
- 21st-century American criminals
- American male criminals
- American people convicted of murder
- American people convicted of burglary
- American people convicted of robbery
- American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
- American serial killers
- Living people
- People convicted of murder by New Mexico
- Serial killers from New Mexico