South Bay Family Seeks Justice After Mother’s Murder in Mexico
A South Bay family is mourning the tragic loss of Erica Gamino, a 41-year-old mother of five, who they believe was murdered during a trip to Mexico. The divorced mother, who grew up in San Jose, embarked on a journey to Tijuana with her boyfriend in early August, unaware that it would be the last time her family would see her.
The heartbreak deepened when Erica’s ex-husband contacted the family, informing them that he had identified her badly decomposed body, discovered along a roadside. According to him, police indicated that she had sustained an apparent gunshot wound. Tijuana police also suggested that the boyfriend might be another victim.
Erica’s brother, Albert Gamino, expressed frustration over the lack of communication from authorities. “The police haven’t even talked to us really,” he lamented. “They gave us an initial police report, but it was not clear on any aspect of what’s going on.”
Cousin Daniel Hoang added that family members have made multiple trips to Mexico in search of answers but have faced significant obstacles. “Based on what the embassy told us to do, we still have no answers or clues,” he said. “At this point, we just want to bring her back home for her kids and for us.”
Albert echoed his cousin’s sentiment, expressing skepticism about the investigation in Tijuana. “I don’t think anything down there is going to get solved. My sister’s kids and I have come to realize that we don’t expect anything from Tijuana, just for her to be brought home.”
Erica’s children are currently under the care of a family member in the Bay Area, while the entire family continues to navigate this painful uncertainty. “We don’t want to keep living life like this, constantly trying to reach out to Mexico without getting any information,” Hoang said. “We have no answers.”
The family has reached out to the office of South Bay Congressman Ro Khanna, who is now looking into the case in hopes of providing them with support and clarity.
