Third Culprit in the `Adjusted Her Hair’ Homicide Sentenced

Nov. 5, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The third culprit in the December 2024 shooting death of Hector Garcia Gomez in Whitehall Township has been sentenced.

Gomez’s widow, Brenda Rodriguez, faces 2 1/2 to 10 years in state prison, according to a statement from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.

Rodriguez was in a car on her phone, when her husband was shot in the parking lot of Loco Hot Deals on MacArthur Road, according to the statement.

“The investigation revealed that Rodriguez was providing information via cellphone detailing her
husband’s location to Liz Marie Pacheco. Pacheco then relayed the location to Martinez-Ramos, who arrived minutes later to the parking lot and parked directly behind the victim’s car.
As the victim left the store and began to get inside his car, (Christian) Martinez-Ramos opened fire from his vehicle and fled the area,” according to today’s statement.

Earlier statements from the District Attorney said Rodriguez adjusted her hair before getting out of the car after her husband was shot.

Pacheco and Martinez-Ramos have already been sentenced.

Here’s District Attorney Holihan’s statement:

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
LEHIGH COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Gavin P. Holihan
District Attorney
Nov.5, 2025

District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announces a woman charged in a Whitehall Township homicide received a state prison sentence.
Brenda Rodriguez, DOB 4/3/1973, of Palmerton, pleaded guilty in September to a felony charge of Conspiracy – Aggravated Assault. She was sentenced today before Judge Robert L. Steinberg to serve 2 ½ to 10 years in state prison.
Rodriguez is the final of three defendants to be sentenced in the Dec. 7, 2024 killing of Hector Garcia Gomez, who was shot several times while in the parking lot of Loco Hot Deals at 1155 MacArthur Road.

Last month, Christian Martinez-Ramos, DOB 8/24/1989, of Allentown, pleaded guilty to Murder of the Third Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Murder of the Third Degree; both felonies. Martinez-Ramos was sentenced to serve 30 to 60 years in state prison.
Liz Marie Pacheco pleaded guilty last month to Murder of the Third Degree and was sentenced to serve 5 to 10 years in state prison.
Officers found Garcia Gomez with multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen and he later succumbed to his injuries. Garcia Gomez, 46, of Palmerton, died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.
Rodriguez is the wife of Garcia Gomez.
Video surveillance showed Garcia Gomez’s vehicle arrive in the parking lot 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 cellphone detailing her
husband’s location to Liz Marie Pacheco. Pacheco then relayed the location to Martinez-Ramos, who arrived minutes later to the parking lot and parked directly behind the victim’s car.
As the victim left the store and began to get inside his car, Martinez-Ramos opened fire from his vehicle and fled the area.
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 was
prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney James A. Augustine.