Wife of Homicide Victim Charged in Husband’s Death; D.A. Says She Gave Information to Other Suspects Before the Shooting, `Adjusted Her Clothing and Hair’ After Killing in Whitehall

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

A woman who allegedly provided information to her husband’s shooter has been charged with criminal solicitation and conspiracy, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Whitehall Police Chief Michael Marks.

Brenda Rodriguez, 51, of Palmerton, provided information to other suspects via her phone just before the killing, according to a statement from law enforcement. She was in a parked car nearby.

She also adjusted her clothing and hair after the shooting of her husband, Hector Garcia Gomez, the DA’s statement says, before she got out of the car. Brenda Rodriguez is being held in Lehigh County Prison without bail.

Gomez was shot Dec. 7 in a parking lot on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township.

Here are the facts, from D.A. Holihan and Chief Marks:

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Jan. 29, 2025

District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Whitehall Police Chief Michael Marks announce a third arrest in a homicide investigation.

Brenda Rodriguez, DOB 4/3/1973, of Palmerton, is charged with Criminal Solicitation – Criminal
Homicide, Conspiracy – Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Assault; all felonies of the first degree. Rodriguez was charged Jan. 28, 2025 and is in Lehigh County Jail without bail. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. Feb. 3 in Lehigh County Central Court.

Rodriguez is the wife of the victim, Hector Garcia Gomez, who was shot and killed around 6:03 p.m. Dec. 7, 2024 in the parking lot of Loco Hot Deals located at 1155 MacArthur Road.

Officers found Garcia Gomez with multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen and he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

Garcia Gomez, 46, of Palmerton, died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.

Video surveillance showed Garcia Gomez’s vehicle arrive in the parking lot and while he was inside the store, Rodriguez stayed inside the car and appeared to be on her phone.

The investigation revealed that Rodriguez was providing information via her cell phone detailing her husband’s location to Liz Marie Pacheco. Pacheco then relayed the location to Christian Martinez-Ramos, who arrived minutes later to the parking lot.

As Garcia Gomez left the store and began to get inside his car, a suspect vehicle parked behind him and gunshots were fired at Garcia Gomez from inside the suspect vehicle. The investigation showed that vehicle was driven by Martinez-Ramos.

After Garcia Gomez was shot, video surveillance shows Rodriguez remained inside the car for more than 22 seconds. Rodriguez eventually got out of the car, adjusted her clothing and hair and picked up several items before slowly walking into the store.

Both Pacheco and Martinez-Ramos were previously charged in this homicide. The case was investigated by Whitehall Township Police Detective Lindsay Yetter, Lehigh County
Homicide Task Force Detectives Timothy Salgado, James Bruchak and Amaury Almonte and will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney James A. Augustine.

As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation; and the defendant, Brenda Rodriguez, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.