Clifton Bloomfield: Difference between revisions

{{short description|American serial killer (born 1969)}}

| caption = Bloomfield's 2006 mugshot for burglary ({{circa}} 2005)

| conviction_penalty = 195 years in prisonimprisonment

'''Clifton Duane Bloomfield''' (born March 1969) is an American [[serial killer]] and former [[Extra (acting)|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 appearancesan appearance as a background character in multiplethe movies and TV shows, includingmovie ''[[Felon (film)|Felon]]'' (2008) and ''[[Breaking Bad]]'' (2008–2013).<ref name="movie">{{cite news |titledate=ConvictedMarch Killer12, an2009 Extra|title='Felon' infeatured Valreal Kilmermurderer Movieas extra |url=https://www.abqjournalupi.com/16542Odd_News/2009/840am03/12/Felon-convictedfeatured-killerreal-anmurderer-extraas-in-val-kilmer-movie.html |work=[[Albuquerque Journal]]extra/30151236890635/ |access-date=March 1219, 20092023 |access-datework=January 15, 2023[[UPI]]}}</ref>

Clifton Duane Bloomfield was raised in [[Kingman, Arizona]].<ref name="mch1">{{cite news |title=Life Spent Growing Up in Prison |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116525551/life-spent-growing-up-in-prison/ |work=[[Albuquerque Journal]] |date=April 5, 2009 |access-date=January 15, 2023}}</ref> 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 enroll at a children's home in [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]].<ref name="mch1"/> 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 [[Mesoridazinemesoridazine]], 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.<ref name="mch1"/> In 1989, Bloomfield and his sister went on a crime spree in [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], which consequently netted him 14 years in prison for 14 years. He was released in 2002.<ref name="mch1"/>

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 hit on him, with Esquibel being gay.<ref name="2ce1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108423904/confessions-of-a-killer/ |title=CONFESSIONS OF A KILLER |author=T.J. William |work=[[Albuquerque Journal]] |date=April 6, 2009 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |page=1 }}</ref> Bloomfield, though not gay, went along with Esquibel and agreed to go back to Esquibel's apartment along Walter SE.<ref name="3ce1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116515326/police-strangulation-not-related/ |title=Police: Strangulations Not Related |author=T.J. William |work=[[Albuquerque Journal]] |date=November 4, 2005 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |page=1 }}</ref> When in Esquibel's bedroom, Bloomfield attacked him and ripped his shirt off, which he used to twist around Esquibel's neck to strangle him to death. After the violent murder, Bloomfield searched through the apartment for valuables. He left soon after, and the body was found hours later by the apartment landlord.<ref name="3ce1"/>

On October 27, Bloomfield reportedly was out on a walkwalking late at night when he noticed the backdoor of a house slightly ajar. Bloomfield later stated to the police that "there wasn't anybody moving, so I went in.".<ref name="4ce1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108424065/confessions-of-a-killer-p2/ |title=CONFESSIONS OF A KILLER |author=T.J. William |work=[[Albuquerque Journal]] |date=April 6, 2009 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |page=3 }}</ref> In the home, he searched through a purse on the kitchen table, but finding that nothing was in there, he decided to take a tour of the home. In one of the bedrooms, Bloomfield found jewelry, which he subsequently pocketed. Soon after, the home's owner, 81-year-old Josephine Selvage, a retired elementary school teacher suffering from [[Alzheimer's disease]], attempted to attack Bloomfield. He subsequently fought back and overpowered Selvage, strangling her as she kicked and tried to scream.<ref name="4ce1"/> After Selvage went unresponsive, Bloomfield kept looking through the home, but eventually left as he did not feel like stealing anything.<ref name="4ce1"/> Since the two murders occurred just days apart and inwere close proximity to each other, police investigated a link, but later falsely came to theincorrectly conclusionconcluded that the two murders were unrelated.<ref name="3ce1"/>

Two months after the murders, Bloomfield approached an elderly couple at gunpoint in the village of [[Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico|Los Ranchos]] and forced them to let him ininto their garage, where he stole a stack of cash.<ref name="4ce1"/> Later that day, he proposed to his girlfriend. Months later, [[United States Marshals Service|U.S. Marshals]] arrested Bloomfield in [[Texas]] for the Los Ranchos home invasion. He was brought back to New Mexico, and although he pledged his innocence, he ended up pleading guilty and servedserving 18 months in jail.<ref name="4ce1"/> After his release, he went back to working as a roofer.

After his release, Bloomfield found work as movie extra. During this time, he appeared as an extra on the setsset of suchthe movies and TV shows such asmovie ''[[Felon (film)|Felon]]'' (2008). andWhen auditioning for the role, Bloomfield also claimed to have worked as an actor on ''[[Breaking Bad]]'' (2008–2013).<ref>{{Cite nameweb |date="2009-03-12 |title=Convicted Killer an Extra in Val Kilmer Movie |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/16542/840am-convicted-killer-an-extra-in-val-kilmer-movie".html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115211220/https://www.abqjournal.com/16542/840am-convicted-killer-an-extra-in-val-kilmer-movie.html |archive-date=2023-01-15 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.abqjournal.com}}</ref> No sources have been found to corroborate this claim.

Bloomfield resumed killing in December 2007. On December 4, he prowled through the backyard of a home on Avenida la Costa NE. He made his way into the house via the glass sliding door, where the homeowner, 79-year-old Tak Yi, attempted to attack Bloomfield. Bloomfield was able to overpower Tak and beat him to death. Soon after, he killed Tak's wife Pung, 69, although he claims a friend of his did it.<ref name="4ce1"/> Days after the murders of the Yi's, police arrested two magazine salesmen for the killings, one of whom confessed. Both were later released from custody after Bloomfield's arrest.<ref name="4ce1"/>

On June 28, 2008, Bloomfield colluded with Jason SkiggsSkaggs, 35, to kill a man only known as Manny. Bloomfield and SkiggsSkaggs brandisheddonned ski masks, vests, and carried shotguns towhile breakbreaking into the home. When they did, they discovered Katherine Bailey and her husband, 40-year-old nurse Scott Pierce. butThey thinkingmistook Pierce wasfor Manny theyand killed him.<ref name="Clif">{{cite news |title=Pair Charged in Shooting Death |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116513860/pair-charged-in-shooting-death/ |work=[[Albuquerque Journal]] |date=July 25, 2008 |access-date=January 15, 2023}}</ref>

On July 1, 2008, Bloomfield and SkiggsSkaggs were arrested for the murder of Scott Pierce. Bloomfield was soon linked to the other crimes via [[DNA]].<ref name="7ce1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116514785/deal-with-the-devel-made-p1/ |title='Deal With the Devel' Made |author=T.J. William |work=[[Albuquerque Journal]] |date=October 11, 2008 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |page=1 }}</ref> He pleaded guilty to all counts and was sentenced to 195 years in prison.<ref name="6ce1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108433304/deal-with-the-devil-made-p2/ |title='Deal With the Devel' Made |author=T.J. William |work=[[Albuquerque Journal]] |date=October 11, 2008 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |page=3 }}</ref>