Suspect in Death of Kayla Gomez Identified
Posted/updated on: November 7, 2016 at 4:13 pm
BULLARD — A body found Saturday was confirmed to be that of a missing East Texas girl. The body of Kayla Gomez, 10, was found in a well near 22131 Old Jacksonville Highway. According to KETK, Kayla’s cousin by marriage, Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, 24, Bullard, is reportedly responsible for her death and has been taken into custody on an immigration hold. He has not been charged in the girl’s death. A motive in the homicide has not been released. According to a law enforcement source, the man is in the country illegally and had been previously deported for a violent crime in 2014. Judicial records show Zavala-Garcia was arrested for assault causing bodily injury twice in 2014.
Gomez went missing November 1st from Bullard First Assembly Church after being abducted from the lobby. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said the child’s body was found through an investigative lead. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators determined her remains were in a well near a family member’s home at the location off the 22000 block of Old Jacksonville Highway. She was still in the clothes she was last seen in when Tyler Fire crews recovered her early Sunday morning. Kayla’s body has been sent to Dallas for autopsy.
Funeral services have been set for Kayla. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway. Her services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 at Stewart Family Funeral Home. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Cemetery, 2003 Blue Mountain Boulevard. Donations can be made in Kayla’s memory to a Kayla’s Fund Account at First Bank & Trust East Texas.
Kayla was a 4th grade student at Jack Elementary School. Tyler ISD organized a vigil for Kayla Gomez at Jack Elementary School Sunday. Additional counselors from the District will be at the Jack campus this week to provide assistance and support as needed for staff and students.
The FBI organized an official search party, including volunteers, to help find Kayla Saturday.
