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Four Arrested In Connection With Death Of Woman Seen ‘Screaming For Help’ As She Was Being Dragged Into Phoenix Home
Melissa Valenzuela, a mother of three, disappeared from her Mesa home and was found dead three days later. Christina Gomez, Mercedes Gomez, Nadine Chavez and Melissa Servin all currently face kidnapping charges.
Four women have been arrested in connection with the death of an Arizona mother, who was seen “screaming for help” as she was being dragged into a Phoenix home.
Christina Gomez, Mercedes Gomez, Nadine Chavez and Melissa Servin are now facing felony kidnapping charges after Melissa Valenzuela, a mother of three, disappeared from her Mesa home and was found dead a few days later, People reports.
The women have not been charged with murder, but Mesa Police Det. Jason Flam told Oxygen.com the case remains an “active, ongoing investigation.”
Valenzuela was last seen with Christina and Mercedes Gomez in Mesa on March 17, according to a probable cause statement obtained by Oxygen.com.
Cell phone records indicated that Mercedes Gomez had traveled to Phoenix that same day. A witness told authorities they'd seen the four suspects arguing with a woman matching Valenzuela’s description that night and into the following day.
One witness reported seeing the women “pushing or dragging the female victim who was screaming for help and for someone to call 911” into a Phoenix home belonging to Chavez.
The witness never saw the victim again, however, they did report later seeing the suspects cleaning up the front of Chavez’s home, according to the records.
Investigators also spoke with Chavez’s brother, who told police that he came to the house on March 17 and again on March 18 and saw “blood in the bathroom of the residence and missing floor tile,” according to the probable cause statement.
He asked his sister had happened and she allegedly told him that Mercedes Gomez and Christina Gomez had come to the house with a third woman. She allegedly said that Mercedes and Christina “fought with the third female and killed her in the residence.”
Then, they left with the body and Chavez and others cleaned up the home.
Chavez’s brother also allegedly told police that a few days after the incident his sister had shown him a news article about a missing woman from Mesa and that Chavez “inferred” it was the same person who had been killed at the home.
Another witness told police that she had been at the home on “an unknown day sometime in March” when three other women were present, one of whom was believed to be Christina Gomez.
The witness told police she had fallen asleep at the house, but woke up the next morning to find “blood in the bathroom.” She said she had helped clean up the blood.
Valenzuela’s body was found on March 23 and her death has been ruled a homicide.
Valenzuela leaves behind three sons, according to local station KPHO/KTVK. Her family told the local news station that they believe they know the motive in the case, but wanted to wait for trial to discuss it.
“We are very grateful for the Mesa Police Department—their time and commitment—because without their hard work we would not have these arrests,” they said in a statement. “We continue to pray that the justice system will, in fact, serve justice to Melissa. To anyone with information, and to the women who have already been arrested, there is grace in salvation for you in doing the right thing and telling the truth.”
The suspects are currently each being held on $50,000 bail, People reports.