Two men accused of m*urdering Editza Gomez, a missing Mission woman, were arraigned on Saturday. She was shot in the head, wrapped in bedsheets, and hidden in an attic, according to the police. Her boyfriend is one of the suspects accused of m*urder.
Both Reynaldo Mercado, age 33, and Kristian Valenzuela, age 24, are charged with mu*rder and tampering with evidence involving a dead body. Reportedly, Mercado was Gomez’s boyfriend and Valenzuela was his flatmate.
Each suspect is being held on a bond of $3.5 million.
On August 19, Gomez was last seen in the 1000 block of North Miller Avenue. Authorities discovered her body in the attic of a house on this street on Thursday.
According to officials, that was the location where she was last seen.
Arturo Flores, the Mission Police Department’s public information officer, stated, “They discovered a hidden compartment in the attic’s rear, which resembled a wall-like hidden compartment against the attic.” Editza was discovered wrapped in seven layers of plastic, towels, sheets, and plastic bags.
Flores stated that Gomez was shot in the head while authorities awaited an autopsy.
Thursday, Mercado was taken into custody. Valenzuela turned himself in voluntarily to the police department and provided a statement later that day.
Each individual will be transferred to the Hidalgo County Jail.
