El Monte man convicted of killing prostitute

Posted by Cameron Heron on September 22, 2011 Leave a comment (0) Go to comments

EL MONTE – An El Monte man was convicted Thursday of beating and strangling to death a 24-year-old prostitute in her hotel room.

A jury found Cesar Gomez, 36, guilty of murder with the special circumstance that the killing occurred during a robbery.

Orange County District Attorney officials said Gomez faces life in prison without parole at his Dec. 2 sentencing.

Gomez met the victim, Ashley Lilly, via an escort website and set up a meeting. Lilly had checked into the Crown Plaza Anaheim Resort in Garden Grove on Aug. 19, 2009.

Authorities said Gomez was at the hotel either the night of Aug. 20, 2009 or early morning Aug. 21, 2009. He severely beat Lilly and strangled her. She wasn’t sexually assaulted. He ransacked the room and stole her phone and laptop. Hotel staff discovered Lilly’s body lying on the floor on Aug. 21, 2009.

Officials said Gomez was linked to the crime through DNA from blood collected from the crime scene. Her laptop was also found in his home.

From staff reports