Clifton Bloomfield
New Mexico Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Albuquerque, New Mexico
TIME PERIOD
2005-2008
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
Clifton Duane Bloomfield, an American serial killer, was active in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 2005 to 2008, during which he murdered five individuals. His criminal activities began on October 24, 2005, when he strangled 37-year-old Carlos Esquibel in Esquibel's apartment after a brief encounter. Following this, on October 27, Bloomfield committed a burglary and subsequently killed 81-year-old Josephine Selvage, who confronted him while he was stealing jewelry. Bloomfield was apprehended on July 1, 2008, and was later convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, along with charges of conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary, resulting in five life sentences plus 45 years. Significant evidence included Bloomfield's own admissions and forensic links to the crime scenes, which ultimately led to his conviction.
Clifton Bloomfield is believed to have targeted vulnerable individuals, with some theorizing that his history of mental health issues and childhood bullying contributed to his violent behavior. There is speculation that his time as a movie extra may have influenced his desire for notoriety, leading him to commit more murders. Investigators have also considered the possibility that Bloomfield may have had accomplices during his crime spree, as the nature of some of the murders suggests a level of planning and coordination.
The Grisly Chronicles of Clifton Bloomfield
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
Clifton Duane Bloomfield, born in March 1969 in Kingman, Arizona, seemed destined for a life of turmoil. His early years were marked by a series of troubling incidents that foreshadowed the dark path he would eventually take. In 1979, a mere ten years old, Bloomfield had his first known encounter with the law following a BB gun incident. A judge ordered him to remain on probation until he turned eighteen and mandated his enrollment in a Tucson children's home. After his release, he returned to his parents, but not to a life of rehabilitation.
Bloomfield's parents struggled to manage his behavior, forcing him to attend mental health clinics daily and administering mesoridazine, a medication for schizophrenia. Despite these efforts, young Clifton's criminal tendencies persisted. At thirteen, he stole a motorcycle and later broke into a church. In 1989, alongside his sister, Bloomfield embarked on a crime spree in Phoenix, which resulted in a 14-year prison sentence. By 2002, Bloomfield was released from prison, but his criminal inclinations had not waned.
The October 2005 Murders
On the night of October 24, 2005, Bloomfield dined at a Fuddruckers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to his account, he was approached by 37-year-old Carlos Esquibel, who allegedly made advances towards him. Bloomfield agreed to accompany Esquibel back to his apartment along Walter SE. Once there, Bloomfield used Esquibel's shirt to strangle him to death. After the murder, he rummaged through the apartment for valuables and left. The landlord discovered Esquibel's body hours later.
Just a few days later, on October 27, Bloomfield found himself wandering late at night when he noticed a slightly ajar back door of a house. Seeing no movement inside, he entered. There, he rifled through a purse, finding nothing, and continued his search throughout the home. In one bedroom, he pocketed some jewelry. He was soon confronted by the homeowner, 81-year-old Josephine Selvage, a retired schoolteacher with Alzheimer's disease. Overpowering her, Bloomfield strangled Selvage with a piece of clothing. Despite the proximity and timing of these murders, police initially failed to connect the two, incorrectly concluding they were unrelated.
Crime Hiatus and a Brush with Stardom
Two months after the murders, Bloomfield approached an elderly couple at gunpoint in Los Ranchos, forcing them into their garage to steal cash. Later that day, he proposed to his girlfriend. His criminal activities soon caught up with him when U.S. Marshals arrested him in Texas for the Los Ranchos home invasion. Extradited to New Mexico, Bloomfield initially proclaimed his innocence but later pleaded guilty, serving 18 months in jail.
Upon his release, Bloomfield took up work as a roofer and dabbled in the world of film as a movie extra. He even appeared in the movie "Felon" (2008) and claimed to have acted in "Breaking Bad," though no evidence supports this claim.
The 2007–2008 Murder Spree
Bloomfield returned to his murderous ways in December 2007. On the night of December 4, he prowled through a backyard on Avenida la Costa NE and entered a home via a glass sliding door. Inside, 79-year-old homeowner Tak Yi attempted to defend himself, but Bloomfield overpowered and beat him to death. Tak's wife, 69-year-old Pung, also fell victim, although Bloomfield later claimed a friend was responsible for her death. Initially, two magazine salesmen were arrested and one confessed to the murders, but they were released after Bloomfield's arrest.
On June 28, 2008, Bloomfield, along with 35-year-old Jason Skaggs, plotted to kill a man known only as Manny. Disguised with ski masks and armed with shotguns, they broke into a home only to find Katherine Bailey and her husband, Scott Pierce, a 40-year-old nurse. Mistaking Pierce for Manny, they killed him.
Arrest and Conviction
The law finally caught up with Bloomfield on July 1, 2008, when he and Skaggs were arrested for Scott Pierce's murder. DNA evidence soon linked Bloomfield to his other heinous crimes. Facing overwhelming evidence, Bloomfield pleaded guilty to ten counts, including five counts of first-degree murder. He received a sentence of five life terms plus an additional 45 years. Skaggs, pleading guilty to four charges including second-degree murder and aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, was sentenced to 30.5 years in prison.
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First Murder Committed
Clifton Bloomfield strangles Carlos Esquibel to death in Albuquerque.
Second Murder Committed
Bloomfield murders 81-year-old Josephine Selvage in her home.
Home Invasion Arrest
Bloomfield arrested for a home invasion in Los Ranchos, later pleads guilty.
Third and Fourth Murders
Bloomfield kills Tak Yi and his wife Pung in their home.
Fifth Murder Committed
Bloomfield and accomplice kill Scott Pierce, mistaking him for another man.
Arrest Made
Bloomfield and accomplice Jason Skaggs are arrested for the murder of Scott Pierce.
Guilty Plea
Bloomfield pleads guilty to five counts of first degree murder and other charges.
Sentencing
Bloomfield is sentenced to five life terms plus 45 years in prison.
Clifton Duane Bloomfield, an American serial killer, was active in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 2005 to 2008, during which he murdered five individuals. His criminal activities began on October 24, 2005, when he strangled 37-year-old Carlos Esquibel in Esquibel's apartment after a brief encounter. Following this, on October 27, Bloomfield committed a burglary and subsequently killed 81-year-old Josephine Selvage, who confronted him while he was stealing jewelry. Bloomfield was apprehended on July 1, 2008, and was later convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, along with charges of conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary, resulting in five life sentences plus 45 years. Significant evidence included Bloomfield's own admissions and forensic links to the crime scenes, which ultimately led to his conviction.
Clifton Bloomfield is believed to have targeted vulnerable individuals, with some theorizing that his history of mental health issues and childhood bullying contributed to his violent behavior. There is speculation that his time as a movie extra may have influenced his desire for notoriety, leading him to commit more murders. Investigators have also considered the possibility that Bloomfield may have had accomplices during his crime spree, as the nature of some of the murders suggests a level of planning and coordination.
The Grisly Chronicles of Clifton Bloomfield
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
Clifton Duane Bloomfield, born in March 1969 in Kingman, Arizona, seemed destined for a life of turmoil. His early years were marked by a series of troubling incidents that foreshadowed the dark path he would eventually take. In 1979, a mere ten years old, Bloomfield had his first known encounter with the law following a BB gun incident. A judge ordered him to remain on probation until he turned eighteen and mandated his enrollment in a Tucson children's home. After his release, he returned to his parents, but not to a life of rehabilitation.
Bloomfield's parents struggled to manage his behavior, forcing him to attend mental health clinics daily and administering mesoridazine, a medication for schizophrenia. Despite these efforts, young Clifton's criminal tendencies persisted. At thirteen, he stole a motorcycle and later broke into a church. In 1989, alongside his sister, Bloomfield embarked on a crime spree in Phoenix, which resulted in a 14-year prison sentence. By 2002, Bloomfield was released from prison, but his criminal inclinations had not waned.
The October 2005 Murders
On the night of October 24, 2005, Bloomfield dined at a Fuddruckers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to his account, he was approached by 37-year-old Carlos Esquibel, who allegedly made advances towards him. Bloomfield agreed to accompany Esquibel back to his apartment along Walter SE. Once there, Bloomfield used Esquibel's shirt to strangle him to death. After the murder, he rummaged through the apartment for valuables and left. The landlord discovered Esquibel's body hours later.
Just a few days later, on October 27, Bloomfield found himself wandering late at night when he noticed a slightly ajar back door of a house. Seeing no movement inside, he entered. There, he rifled through a purse, finding nothing, and continued his search throughout the home. In one bedroom, he pocketed some jewelry. He was soon confronted by the homeowner, 81-year-old Josephine Selvage, a retired schoolteacher with Alzheimer's disease. Overpowering her, Bloomfield strangled Selvage with a piece of clothing. Despite the proximity and timing of these murders, police initially failed to connect the two, incorrectly concluding they were unrelated.
Crime Hiatus and a Brush with Stardom
Two months after the murders, Bloomfield approached an elderly couple at gunpoint in Los Ranchos, forcing them into their garage to steal cash. Later that day, he proposed to his girlfriend. His criminal activities soon caught up with him when U.S. Marshals arrested him in Texas for the Los Ranchos home invasion. Extradited to New Mexico, Bloomfield initially proclaimed his innocence but later pleaded guilty, serving 18 months in jail.
Upon his release, Bloomfield took up work as a roofer and dabbled in the world of film as a movie extra. He even appeared in the movie "Felon" (2008) and claimed to have acted in "Breaking Bad," though no evidence supports this claim.
The 2007–2008 Murder Spree
Bloomfield returned to his murderous ways in December 2007. On the night of December 4, he prowled through a backyard on Avenida la Costa NE and entered a home via a glass sliding door. Inside, 79-year-old homeowner Tak Yi attempted to defend himself, but Bloomfield overpowered and beat him to death. Tak's wife, 69-year-old Pung, also fell victim, although Bloomfield later claimed a friend was responsible for her death. Initially, two magazine salesmen were arrested and one confessed to the murders, but they were released after Bloomfield's arrest.
On June 28, 2008, Bloomfield, along with 35-year-old Jason Skaggs, plotted to kill a man known only as Manny. Disguised with ski masks and armed with shotguns, they broke into a home only to find Katherine Bailey and her husband, Scott Pierce, a 40-year-old nurse. Mistaking Pierce for Manny, they killed him.
Arrest and Conviction
The law finally caught up with Bloomfield on July 1, 2008, when he and Skaggs were arrested for Scott Pierce's murder. DNA evidence soon linked Bloomfield to his other heinous crimes. Facing overwhelming evidence, Bloomfield pleaded guilty to ten counts, including five counts of first-degree murder. He received a sentence of five life terms plus an additional 45 years. Skaggs, pleading guilty to four charges including second-degree murder and aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, was sentenced to 30.5 years in prison.
Sources
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First Murder Committed
Clifton Bloomfield strangles Carlos Esquibel to death in Albuquerque.
Second Murder Committed
Bloomfield murders 81-year-old Josephine Selvage in her home.
Home Invasion Arrest
Bloomfield arrested for a home invasion in Los Ranchos, later pleads guilty.
Third and Fourth Murders
Bloomfield kills Tak Yi and his wife Pung in their home.
Fifth Murder Committed
Bloomfield and accomplice kill Scott Pierce, mistaking him for another man.
Arrest Made
Bloomfield and accomplice Jason Skaggs are arrested for the murder of Scott Pierce.
Guilty Plea
Bloomfield pleads guilty to five counts of first degree murder and other charges.
Sentencing
Bloomfield is sentenced to five life terms plus 45 years in prison.