Font ResizeRichardson and Constantino were found to have died from results of strangulation. Tomas Gouverneur, of Corvallis, Oregon, died the day of the incident when the car he was driving struck a tree off of Hwy. 101, during a vehicle pursuit with deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department.
Through the investigation the Sheriff’s Department was able to link Gouverneur to the murders and assaults with witness statements (James Gund’s statement), evidence found at the scene and evidence found in Tomas’s possession. James Gund positively identified Gouverneur as being the person who assaulted both his wife and him.
During the assaults on Richardson and Constantino it was discovered that a handheld taser was used to help subdue Richardson and that during the attack of the Gunds, a handheld taser was also used along with a knife.
With information from the taser manufacture, detectives were able to confirm that the taser was activated online using Gouverneur’s personal information within days of the incident. During a search of Tomas at the time of his autopsy he was found to be in possession of an extra taser cartridge. Further investigation revealed that the taser cartridge found on Gouverneur’s person and the taser cartridges found at the scene all match as being sold in the package with the handheld taser unit found at the scene and found to be activated by Gouverneur.
Detectives also found older photos of Gouverneur on a MySpace account that show him in possession of a similar type of knife that was used in the assault on the Gunds. The knife in the pictures appears to have the same type of handle, size and shape as the knife used in this incident. This knife was recovered from the Gund’s house by a firefighter who turned that knife over to law enforcement the night of the incident.
It was reported that during the assault on the Gunds, James Gund was able to take the knife away from Gouverneur. When James Gund fled the scene on foot to get help, he carried the knife to his house where he dropped it on the floor before he grabbed his car keys and drove to the Kettenpom store to ask for help.
The bodies of Richardson and Constantino were found bound with handcuffs, rope and duct tape. Detectives found packaging and receipts for the purchase of the handcuffs in the trunk of the car Gouverneur was driving at the time of his death. The packaging for the handcuffs found in Gouverneur’s car matched the type of handcuffs used to restrain Richardson and Constantino. Detectives were able to trace the handcuffs purchase back to a store in Corvallis, Oregon, where the surveillance footage showed Gouverneur making the purchase of those items the day before the incident. Packaging for the rope and duct tape used in this incident was also traced back to a store in Corvallis, Oregon.
Detectives also found a box of trash bags, a Gerber brand multi-tool and quick link type chain links at the crime scene. During the search of Gouverneur’s car, detectives found packaging and receipts for the purchase of these items. Again detectives checked surveillance footage from the stores these items were purchased at and found that Gouverneur was the person who purchased these items.
During the search of Gouverneur’s car detectives also found packages of marijuana and $11,000 in cash bundled in a way that is consistent with sales of marijuana. The items were found in a green duffle bag that was believed to have been taken from the scene. Detectives also found identical packages of marijuana (same packaging and weights) at the crime scene.
Throughout the investigation it has shown that Gouverneur acted alone and there is no evidence to support a second person being involved in this incident. In review of the surveillance footage nobody else appeared to be with Gouverneur and there was no indication that anybody was traveling with him at the time of the incident.
The motive for the crime is believed to be related to marijuana sales and money from the sales of marijuana.
