The mother-in-law of a former Mexican beauty queen has been arrested in Venezuela following a two-week manhunt over the alleged execution-style killing of her daughter-in-law. Erika María Herrera, 62, was detained in Venezuela on Wednesday, April 24, after Mexican authorities issued an Interpol Red Notice for her arrest. The victim, Carolina Flores Gómez, 27, was found dead in her Mexico City apartment on April 15 with 12 gunshot wounds, including six to the head and six to the chest. Gómez, who was crowned Miss Teen Universe Baja California in 2017, was shot inside her luxury apartment in the affluent Polanco neighborhood.
**Herrera’s arrest** came after video evidence surfaced online, allegedly showing her following Gómez into a room before gunshots and screams were heard. The footage also captured Gómez’s husband, **Alejandro Gómez**, carrying their 8-month-old child and confronting his mother, who reportedly fled the scene. Prosecutors are now seeking Herrera’s extradition to Mexico, where she is the primary suspect in the murder investigation. Authorities are also investigating Alejandro Gómez’s role after he reportedly allowed his mother to flee before reporting the shooting the following day.
**Background and Investigation**
The Mexico City Attorney General’s Office confirmed Herrera’s arrest and stated that extradition procedures are underway. The case has drawn significant attention due to Gómez’s high-profile background as a former beauty queen. Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive for the killing, but the video evidence and Herrera’s alleged statements—including claims that Gómez had 'stolen' her son—have fueled speculation. The investigation remains ongoing, with prosecutors examining whether there was a cover-up in the homicide.