On August 19, 2023, 40-year-old Editza Gomez was reported missing in Mission, Texas. She was last seen walking northbound on the 1000 block of North Miller Avenue before noon. Her disappearance was particularly distressing for her family, as it was uncharacteristic of her to lose contact with her loved ones.
Nearly two weeks later, on August 31, authorities executed a search warrant at a residence on North Miller Avenue, the same location where Gomez was last seen.
During the search, cadaver dogs from the U.S. Border Patrol detected a concealed compartment in the attic between the living room and kitchen walls. Inside, investigators found Gomez's body wrapped in multiple layers of plastic, towels, bedsheets, and plastic bags. An autopsy later revealed that she had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
The investigation led to the arrest of two individuals: 33-year-old Reynaldo Mercado, identified as Gomez's boyfriend, and his 24-year-old roommate, Kristian Valenzuela. Both men were charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence involving a human corpse. Valenzuela voluntarily turned himself in to the Mission Police Department, providing a statement in which he claimed that on August 19, he witnessed Mercado and Gomez engaged in a fight. He reported hearing gunshots while he was in the shower and, upon exiting, saw Gomez injured on the kitchen floor. Valenzuela alleged that Mercado threatened him with firearms to compel his assistance in concealing Gomez's body. He also stated that they cleaned the crime scene and burned evidence, including a DVR and cleaning products, in a barbecue pit.
Both suspects were initially held on bonds totaling $3.5 million each. In October 2023, Valenzuela's bond was reduced to $200,000 for the murder charge and $10,000 for the tampering charge. As of January 2024, Mercado pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to gather evidence and prepare for trial.
