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A Pledge of “Justice for Kayla”

Posted/updated on: November 9, 2016 at 1:08 pm
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kayla4_1478092771068_12581164_ver1-0TYLER – Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham has pledged. “We will get justice for Kayla.” His comment came at a Tuesday news conference where law officers discussed the disappearance and death of Kayla Gomez Orozco. A relative, Gustavo Zavala-Garcia, 24, of Bullard, has been charged with capital murder. He is in the Smith County jail under a $10 million bond. A motive in the homicide has not been released. According to a law enforcement source, the suspect is in the country illegally. Judicial records show Zavala-Garcia was arrested for assault causing bodily injury twice in 2014.

Zavala-Garcia made a brief appearance in court Tuesday afternoon. In a session that lasted less than ten minutes, State District Judge Jack Skeen read the charges against him. The suspect, with an interpreter present, acknowledged he understood the charges.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit for Zavala-Garcia, he admitted killing the girl. He later recanted his comment. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said they are taking precautions with Zavala-Garcia, as they would in any case like this. Smith said he is being kept in a separation cell and he has instructed jail personnel to place him under a 10 minute watch.

The girl 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. The arrest warrant said Kayla was placed in the well within 30 minutes of her disappearance. She was still in the clothes she was last seen in when Tyler Fire crews recovered her early Sunday morning. Kayla’s body was 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 Lanes Chapel United Methodist Church. 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.



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