The man arrested for murdering his wife Monday allegedly confessed to 12 bank robberies over the last five years and is expected to face additional robbery charges when arraigned today in San Mateo County Superior Court.
Robert Lomas, 51, was arrested Monday night after police located his wife stabbed to death in their North Fair Oaks residence earlier that morning. The woman was identified yesterday as 50-year-old Linda Lomas, whose maiden name is Jackson, according to the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office.
Lomas admitted to robbing 12 banks of approximately $15,000 dating back to 2002 when questioned by police Monday evening. At least five of those cases — which happened within the last five weeks — could result in bank robbery charges at today’s arraignment, said Detective Jeff Price of the Redwood City Police Department, which is leading the bank robbery investigation.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is handling the homicide investigation.
As first reported in the Daily Journal Tuesday, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 9:55 a.m. Monday from an unidentified man reporting a woman dead at 2830B Huntington Ave. in North Fair Oaks — the unincorporated area of Redwood City, said Sheriff’s Lt. Lisa Williams.
Responding officers found a woman dead at the in-law unit to the rear of the property. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene, Williams said.
Lomas’ arrest comes on the heels of an April domestic violence incident for which he was sentenced to 15 days in jail and was expected to surrender on June 19. He was also required to sign up for a domestic violence class by yesterday — 13 days after he was sentenced.
Lomas had reportedly tried to sign up for the domestic violence class on Monday but was rejected because he didn’t have enough money. Domestic violence classes usually cost approximately $75.
The landlord reported a usually quiet couple who paid the rent on time. At least one neighbor said Tuesday that the couple was recently overheard arguing.
While dealing with the domestic violence case, Lomas began robbing banks — something he previously did in 2002 and 2003. Lomas allegedly disguised himself using a fisherman’s hat. The disguise earned him the moniker of the “Gilligan Robber” by police.
Both his recent booking photo and security camera images from recent bank robberies show a stark resemblance.
Lomas allegedly began robbing banks in 2002 and 2003. At that time he robbed five banks in Redwood City, Union City, Sunnyvale and Mountain View. Last month, just more than two weeks after his domestic violence arrest, Lomas began robbing some of the same banks in Union City and Redwood City. He also robbed a bank in San Carlos.
|