Four women are charged after they ‘dragged a screaming mom-of-three into a house and killed her following an argument’ – The US Sun
FOUR women have been arrested for kidnap after they “dragged” a screaming mom into a house and allegedly killed her following an argument, say cops.
Melissa Valenzuela, 34, was last seen at her home on March 17, and found dead on March 23.
Her grieving sister, Jessica Valenzuela, told KPNX the mom-of-three "will never see her sons’ prom, she’ll never meet her grandkids, and she looked forward to all those things.
"[Melissa] was so loved. She loved spending time with the family.
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"She was so happy and so funny and she smiled all the time."
Authorities in Mesa, Arizona, haven’t disclosed how Melissa was killed.
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But Phoenix TV station KTVK said a police report listed a blunt instrument as being used as a weapon, and that blood was found inside a home.
Nadine Chavez, 34, Christina Gomez, 39, Mercedes Gomez, 32, and Melissa Servin, 42, were taken into custody on April 24 in connection with the disappearance and homicide of Melissa.
According to court documents, Melissa had been seen with Mercedes and Christina Gomez on the day she disappeared.
A witness told cops she noticed Chavez, Christina Gomaz and Servin pushing or dragging a woman on the night of March 17.
They were seen arguing in front of a property.
That witness alleged the trio were "pushing or dragging the female victim who was screaming for help, and for someone to call 911".
Police were also told that Melissa had been forced into Chavez's home in Phoenix, the court records add.
It's alleged one of those later arrested was seen covering the mother's mouth.
AZ Central reports that Mercedes Gomez's van was seen parked outside the home.
The witness said they also noticed the women "cleaning up in front of the residence" on March 18.
But, there was no sign of the mom.
Court records add that another witness, Chavez's brother, told cops he went to his sister's home on March 17 and saw blood splattered in the bathroom, and some floor tiles were missing.
Police believe that Christina and Mercedes Gomez took Melissa's remains from the property, and their pals stayed behind to clean up the house.
When Chavez later showed her brother a story in the paper about the missing mother, she "inferred to him that was the female who was killed at the residence," the court documents say.
My sister was so loved and is tragically survived by her three very young kids.
Melissa's sister, Jessica Valenzuela
The records also explain that one witness fell asleep at Chavez's home, and upon waking up on March 18, she "observed blood in the bathroom".
That person helped mop up the blood, the court documents add.
After her family reported her missing, Mesa Police Department began searching for Melissa on March 21, several days after she'd last been seen in public.
Cops said on Facebook that her "family is concerned for her welfare since it is out of character for her not to be in communication with them regularly."
Several days later, her body was recovered.
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On the Mesa Police Facebook page, her sister Jessica Valenzuela posted: "Melissa was found but there are still no answers.
"My sister was so loved and is tragically survived by her three very young kids and a blended family who loved her deeply, if you have any information please contact Mesa pd."
AZ Central says that following the alleged kidnappers' arrests on Friday, all four women were booked into Maricopa County jail, and are scheduled to make an initial court appearance tomorrow, May 4.
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