Palmerton Woman Who Adjusted Her Hair After Husband Was Fatally Shot in Whitehall Township Gets Plea Deal, Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison

Sept. 22, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

A Palmerton woman who apparently relayed information about where her husband’s whereabouts before he was fatally shot may spend up to 20 years in prison, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan. That potential sentence is the result of a plea deal.

Brenda Rodriguez, 52, stayed in her husband’s car as he went into a store on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township on Dec. 7, 2024.

“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 cell phone detailing her
husband’s location to Liz Marie Pacheco. Pacheo then relayed the location to Christian Martinez-Ramos, who arrived minutes later to the parking lot,” according to Holihan’s statement.

The 46-year-old Garcia Gomez was shot multiple times as he went to get back into his car.

“After Garcia Gomez was shot, video surveillance showed 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,” the District Attorney’s press release says.

Rodriguez “pleaded guilty today to a felony charge of Conspiracy – Aggravated Assault. The remaining charges will be withdrawn as part of the plea deal,” according to the statement.

Pacheco and Martinez-Ramos faces charges in the homicide, Holihan said, and are presumed innocent “until and unless proven guilty.”

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
LEHIGH COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Gavin P. Holihan
District Attorney
Sept. 22, 2025
455 WEST HAMILTON STREET
ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA 18101-1614

District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announces a woman pleaded guilty in a Whitehall homicide
investigation.
Brenda Rodriguez, DOB 4/3/1973, of Palmerton, pleaded guilty today to a felony charge of Conspiracy – Aggravated Assault. The remaining charges will be withdrawn as part of the plea deal.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty today in a hearing before Judge Robert L. Steinberg. Rodriguez will be
sentenced at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 5 and could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Rodriguez is the wife of the victim, Hector Garcia Gomez, who was shot and killed shortly after 6 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 cell phone detailing her
husband’s location to Liz Marie Pacheco. Pacheo then relayed the location to Christian Martinez-Ramos, who arrived minutes later to the parking lot.
The investigation showed that as Garcia Gomez left the store and began to get inside his car, Martinez Ramos drove his vehicle through the parking lot and parked behind Garcia Gomez. Gunshots were fired at Garcia Gomez from the Martinez-Ramos vehicle, striking Garcia Gomez multiple times.
After Garcia Gomez was shot, video surveillance showed 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 are awaiting trial on charges relating to this homicide.
This case was investigated by Whitehall Township Police Detective Lindsay Yetter, Lehigh County
Homicide Task Force Detectives Timothy Salgado, James Bruchak and Amaury Almonte and is
prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney James A. Augustine.
As in every criminal case, the fact that arrests occurred or complaints have been filed are merely
accusations; and the defendants, Liz Marie Pacheco and Christian Martinez-Ramos, are presumed
innocent until and unless proven guilty.