Log In


Reset Password

Palmerton woman charged in husband’s death

A Palmerton woman was charged Tuesday for playing a role in her husband’s death last month.

Whitehall Township Police charged Brenda Rodriguez, 51, with criminal solicitation-criminal homicide, conspiracy and aggravated assault, all felonies

The charges stem from the Dec. 7 shooting of her husband Hector Manual Garcia Gomez, 46, of Palmerton, in the parking lot of Loco Hot Deals, 1155 MacArthur Rd., Whitehall Township.

Rodriguez was committed to the Lehigh County Prison without bail. She is the third person charged in Garcia Gomez’s death. Last month, police charged Christian Martinez-Ramos and Liz Marie Pacheco, 37, both of Allentown, in the murder.

According to police, video surveillance shows Garcia Gomez and Rodriguez arrive at the store in his car. Garcia Gomez went inside the store, while Rodriguez stayed in the car and began talking on her phone. Police learned that Rodriguez was providing information about her husband’s location to Pacheco, who relayed it to Martinez-Ramos.

When Garcia Gomez left the store and walked toward his car, police said Martinez-Ramos pulled up behind him and shot him.

Following the shooting, police said video surveillance shows that Rodriguez remained in the car for more than 22 seconds. When she exited, police said she adjusted her clothing and hair and picked up several items before slowly walking into the store.

Officers found Garcia Gomez with multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen. His death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.

Pacheco and Martinez-Ramos are also in Lehigh County Prison.