Mom of teen charged in prom date's death faces disturbing allegations

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The mother of the man suspected in the prom night death of his 17-year-old girlfriend helped attempt to cover it up, according to prosecutors.

Assistant Harris County District Attorney Bill Exley said 18-year-old Eddie Herrera called his mother the morning after the prom upon waking up and finding Jackie Gomez deceased in their hotel room bed. Upon the mother's arrival, Exley said, "She told police that she found Ms. Gomez nude and that she dressed her body."

After that, the prosecutor said Herrerra's mother called the hotel operator looking for a doctor. It was the hotel then that helped call 9-1-1.

Gomez died May 7 following the MacArthur High School prom, which was held in the Hyatt North Houston. She and her boyfriend stayed in a room there, despite her apparent agreement with her mother to return home by midnight. Investigators say her mother reported her as missing by sunrise the following morning.

Prosecutor Exley says Herrera admitted to choking Gomez during sex following the prom. But Herrera is charged with Aggravated Assault and not murder, as the medical examiner has not yet been able to determine the cause of her death.

While prosecutors say an autopsy revealed severe bruising around her neck, toxicology testing also revealed she had hydrocodone in her system and a blood alcohol level of .21. Investigators say Herrera's mother supplied the young couple both hydrocodone and whiskey.

Herrera's mother has not been charged with any crime, though the investigation continues.

Herrera could face up to life in prison if convicted.