In a breakthrough development after a fortnight-long search, law enforcement has apprehended the alleged fugitive mother-in-law, suspected of murdering a former Mexican beauty queen, as confirmed by Mexican officials on Thursday.
Authorities reported that 27-year-old Carolina Flores Gómez, who captured the title of Miss Teen Universe Baja California in 2017, was tragically shot on April 15 within her apartment located in one of Mexico City’s high-end neighborhoods, according to the local publication El País.
Erika María Herrera was apprehended in Venezuela after Mexican authorities secured an arrest warrant and, in partnership with Interpol, issued a Red Notice. This international alert facilitated Venezuelan police in locating and arresting her following the alleged crime, as stated by Mexican officials.
“The suspect is presently held by authorities in Venezuela, with necessary procedures underway to arrange her extradition to Mexico,” the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office revealed.
On April 15, Carolina Flores Gómez was discovered shot to death in her upscale Mexico City residence. Her mother-in-law has been identified as the primary suspect in this purported murder case.
Local reports identified Herrera as a key suspect in the ongoing murder investigation after social media surfaced with video footage placing the mother-in-law at the crime scene.
The victim was found with 12 gunshot wounds, including six to the head and six to the chest, inside a Polanco neighborhood apartment she shared with Herrera’s son, Alejandro, and the couple’s 8-month-old child, Mexican outlet Record reported.
The son is also under investigation after reports indicated he allowed his mother to flee before reporting the shooting the next day, raising the possibility of a cover-up, El País added.
A woman identified as Erika Maria Herrera was arrested in Venezuala this week in a homicide case in Mexico. (@FiscaliaCDMX/X)
Video recorded by a baby monitor and released by local outlet Reforma, appeared to capture the moments leading up to the alleged killing, all while the son was nearby caring for the baby.
In the clip, the mother was seen following Flores into a room before multiple gunshots were heard followed by a scream.
In response, the son appeared to walk into the frame holding his child to confront his mother, asking what had happened.
Mexican prosecutors have opened a homicide case in the death of former beauty queen Carolina Flores Gómez. (Jam Press)
In a baffling turn, Maria appeared to respond callously to her son.
“Nothing, she just made me angry,” the mom said as she walked away.
“What are you doing? She is my family,” he said.
The mother was then heard explaining, “You are mine, and she stole you.”
Former beauty queen Carolina Flores Gómez, 27, was found dead in her Mexico City apartment. (Jam Press)
Flores’ mother, Reyna Gomez Molina, told Univision News the son allegedly delayed reporting the incident out of fear that the child would be placed in foster care.
“Thinking that if he was arrested, the baby would go to a children’s home. He made sure to record videos so they would know how to feed the child while he was away taking care of all the paperwork. That’s what he told me,” she said, adding that her offer to take care of her grandson was declined.
She had also pressed the son to clarify whether he had been next to the victim the entire time before reporting the incident but did not provide further details, according to the outlet.
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