Yadira Gomez’s 9-year-old son was one of the first to find his mother dead inside their apartment. He told his teacher, prompting police to find Gomez’s body. Now Independence police are helping Gomez’s family.
According to court documents, Gomez’s son found his mother’s lifeless body on Sunday and told his school teacher on Monday. Police found Gomez stabbed to death in the families Hawthorne Apartment. Her husband, Vicente Roland-Marron, is now charged with murder.
"Having been a police officer for over 12 years this is one if not the worst crime scenes I've seen,” said Officer Luis Virgil with the Independence Police Department.
Virgil says as soon as members of the Independence Police Department saw the crime scene, the police department wanted to step in to help the family.
"I think what tugged at our hearts is that these children of the victim were witnesses to something that we can't even imagine,” said Virgil.
The Independence Police Department is not alone in helping the family. They provided 41 Action News this list of organizations stepping forward to help.
- Best Buy, three 7-inch android tablets and cases.
- Sunfresh in Susquehanna, 2 $100 dollar gift cards, arranged by Detective Jarnagin
- Hawthorne Place Apartments, internet service for the family and all moving expenses to a larger unit.
- Community Service League, food, clothing and toys, arranged by Officer Abraham.
- AMC, free movie passes for the family, arranged by Officer Abraham.
- Independence personnel donations, $1442.
- Cox Family, three mattresses and $100.00 gift card.
- Catholic Charities, covering funeral expenses.
Corey’s Network, founded by Michelle Metje, is helping with Gomez’s funeral.
"It's something no one should ever see, no one should ever have to go through what we have gone through,” said Metje.
Michelle Metje's son, Corey Laykovich, was stabbed in 2013. Metje found him and rushed him to the hospital- where he later died. Just a few weeks ago 24-year-old John Seger was arrested and charged with Laykovich’s murder.
Metje started Corey's Network to help victims of homicide. She says finding a loved one fighting for their lives, or dead, is something no one, especially kids should go through.
"This is the woman who that was supposed to protect her children and she wasn’t there anymore so the idea of finding her like that is probably the most frightening experience these children have ever had,” said Metje.
People who would like to donate should contact the Independence Police Department.
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Ali Hoxie can be reached at ali.hoxie@kshb.com
