Mother of teen charged in after-prom death is arrested

Melissa Ann Martinez

Charges have been filed against the mother of the teenager accused in his prom date’s death.

Melissa Ann Martinez, 40, is charged with two counts of manufacturing/delivery of a controlled substance and one count of purchasing/furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Her son, Eddie M. Herrera, 18, was previously arrested and charged with aggravated. He is accused for his role in the death of his girlfriend, Jacqueline Gomez, 17, of Houston, on May 17, 2014. She was found dead in the hotel room at the Hyatt Regency North.

Ms. Gomez, a MacArthur high school senior, attended her prom the previous evening and then returned to a room at the hotel, the Hyatt Regency North, along with her boyfriend. The boyfriend stated the couple consumed alcohol before falling asleep in the room. When Ms. Gomez’s boyfriend awoke the next morning, he could not wake up Gomez. Houston Fire Department personnel responded and pronounced her dead.

An initial investigation identified Herrera as the suspect in this case. He was arrested on January 14, 2015 and admitted to choking Gomez during the evening.

Further investigation determined Martinez was also a suspect in this case. She was arrested last Thursday, March 19, and has allegedly admitted to investigators she provided alcohol and drugs to Herrera and Gomez.

The motive and official cause of Gomez’s death remain under investigation.