Man who stabbed former landlord gets 55 years in prison

June 22

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a judge sentenced the man who stabbed his former landlord to death in 2007 to 55 years in prison.

Martin Gomez, 26, was convicted in April of stabbing Joseph Salamie to death in unincorporated Peotone on May 9, 2007. He also was convicted of committing a home invasion and armed robbery for forcing his way into the victim’s home and stealing about $1,000 in cash.

Gomez stabbed the victim an estimated 111 times during the attack and then used the money he stole to buy marijuana and to pay personal bills. The victim initially was attacked inside his house, which is on a horse farm. He was stabbed repeatedly after he attempted to flee the residence; the victim’s body was found in a ditch outside the house.

Gomez had rented a trailer on the victim’s horse farm prior to the attack.

Circuit Judge Richard Schoenstedt sentenced Gomez on Wednesday afternoon.

Will County Sheriff’s Detectives found Gomez’s DNA in the bathroom of the victim’s house. Prosecutors also presented testimony from witnesses who said they saw the defendant covered in blood near his house in rural St. Anne shortly after the attack.

Investigators also found the victim’s credit cards in the defendant’s car, and cell phone records showed that Gomez was in the area of the house at the time of the attack. The defendant’s girlfriend also testified that he admitted to her that he killed Salamie.Glasgow credited Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Knick, Steve Platek and Jeff Tuminello with securing the conviction and sentence that takes this dangerous killer off the streets. He also thanked Will County Sheriff’s Detectives for a thorough investigation.