In the quiet city of Redmond, Oregon, the life of 24-year-old Rebekah Gomes, a Hispanic female and preschool teacher, was tragically cut short on the night of December 11, 2015. She was fatally shot in the back as she attempted to flee from her estranged boyfriend, Mario Emanuel Morataya, who was 23 at the time. The incident occurred outside a home on Northeast Larch Avenue where Gomes resided with family members. She was discovered lying in the roadway by neighbors who attempted to render aid before emergency services arrived. Gomes was transported to St. Charles Redmond hospital, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
The catalyst for the fatal encounter was the end of Gomes's relationship with Morataya. A few days prior to the shooting, Gomes had broken up with Morataya, who then checked into a hotel. In the days leading up to her death, he had taken her phone, iPad, and wallet, communicating with her through her sister's phone. On that Friday night, Morataya came to the residence under the pretense of returning her belongings. After a conversation in his car, Gomes exited the vehicle and fell to the ground, at which point Morataya shot her once in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun he had purchased earlier that week. The act of violence was witnessed by Gomes's 5-year-old son.
Following the shooting, Morataya fled the scene, prompting a police alert that described him as armed and dangerous. His vehicle, a black 2003 Chevy Silverado, was located the next morning at a hotel in Mitchell, a small town about 60 miles away. A Wheeler County sheriff's deputy took Morataya into custody around 11 a.m. on Saturday, and a shotgun was recovered from his truck. He was subsequently lodged in the Deschutes County jail.
Mario Morataya was charged with aggravated murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon. Initially, legal proceedings involved discussions about the sharing of information between attorneys and a judge's order to bar them from speaking to the press. However, upon learning that Gomes's young son had witnessed the murder, Morataya chose to plead guilty to aggravated murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and second-degree attempted kidnapping. During the sentencing hearing, he apologized to Gomes's family, who in a remarkable display of grace, stated that their Christian faith commanded them to forgive him. Morataya was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after a minimum of 30 years.
