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. Gamino, who grew up in San Jose, left for Tijuana with her boyfriend in early August, unaware that it would be the last time her family would see her.
Her ex-husband informed the family that he had identified her badly decomposed body, discovered along a roadside, with an apparent gunshot wound, according to police. Tijuana authorities have indicated that her boyfriend may also be a victim in this case.
Erica’s brother, Albert Gamino, expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the police. “They haven’t really talked to us,” he said. “They provided an initial police report, but it didn’t clarify what was going on.”
Family members, including Erica’s cousin Daniel Hoang, have traveled back and forth to Mexico in search of answers but have been met with minimal guidance. “We’ve followed the embassy’s instructions, but we still have no answers or clues,” Hoang shared. “At this point, we just want her back home for her kids and for us.”
Albert echoed this sentiment, stating, “I don’t think anything in Tijuana is going to get resolved. We’ve come to terms with not expecting any updates from there, just a return home for her.”
While Erica’s children are currently being cared for by a family member in the Bay Area, the entire family feels stuck in uncertainty. “We don’t want to keep living like this, trying to reach out to Mexico for information,” Hoang added. “We have no answers.”
The family is also in contact with South Bay Congressman Ro Khanna’s office, which is looking into the case, hoping for assistance in bringing closure to their heartbreaking ordeal.
