10 Facts About Aijalon Gomes

Aijalon Mahli Gomes was an American teacher who was detained in North Korea for illegally entering the country via China on January 25,2010.

In May 2015, Aijalon Gomes published an autobiography, Violence and Humanity.

Aijalon Gomes graduated from Bowdoin College in 2001 and subsequently went to South Korea to teach English.

For two years prior to his arrest, Aijalon Gomes taught English at Chungui Middle School in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea for the GEPIK teaching program.

Aijalon Gomes wrote in his autobiography that he initially planned to enter North Korea directly from South Korea by crossing the Korean Demilitarized Zone in Cheorwon County on January 18,2010, but found himself unable to navigate the area on foot.

Aijalon Gomes was allowed to speak to his mother by phone on April 30,2010.

On his repatriation to the US, family members reported that Aijalon Gomes was a little thin but was otherwise in good physical health.

Aijalon Gomes died on November 17,2017, in the Mission Bay Park part of San Diego.

Aijalon Gomes was 38 years old at the time, had recently moved from Boston to San Diego, and was believed to be homeless at the time of his death.

Aijalon Gomes was spotted on fire in a dirt field, running, and then collapsing.