Bio

Ricardo Gomez Hernandez was born in 1982 and was from Brownsville, Texas. He was known as “Ricky” Hernandez and by the nickname “El Boy.” At the time of the murders, Hernandez was a teenager. Most later reports state that he was 15 years old when the crime happened, though one older report described him as 16. He was reportedly a student in Brownsville.

Hernandez was connected to Christopher Carrera, another teenager involved in the case. On April 25, 1998, Hernandez and Carrera were riding in a Ford Mustang while three other teenagers were in a Chevrolet Camaro.

After the murders, Hernandez fled to Mexico. Authorities believed he had been living in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, for years. He remained a fugitive for almost a decade before Mexican authorities arrested him in March 2008 and turned him over to United States authorities.

After he was returned to Texas, Hernandez was certified to stand trial as an adult on three counts of capital murder. He later pleaded guilty to the murders and received a 35-year prison sentence for each victim, with the sentences running at the same time.

Murder Story

On April 25, 1998, Ricardo Gomez Hernandez and Christopher Carrera were riding in a Ford Mustang in Brownsville, Texas. Jason Sexton, Roberto Moreno, and Ricardo Mata were in a Chevrolet Camaro. The two cars had been racing or driving near each other around Brownsville. The group in the Camaro later asked Hernandez and Carrera if they knew where they could get beer or marijuana. Hernandez and Carrera then led the Camaro toward Minnesota Road, a remote area near the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport.

According to later court records from Carrera’s case, Hernandez showed a gun and said he wanted to rob the three teenagers. Carrera claimed he objected but stopped the car. Hernandez then walked back toward the Camaro. The driver got out of the Camaro and spoke with Hernandez. According to Carrera’s statement, the driver raised his hands and dropped to the ground as Hernandez shot him. Carrera then heard more gunshots and heard Hernandez tell one of the victims not to run before shooting the others.

Jason Sexton, Roberto Moreno, and Ricardo Mata were found shot to death. Early news reports said their bodies were discovered in or near the Camaro on a back road near the airport. Sexton, the youngest victim, was reportedly shot several times and found a short distance away, suggesting he may have tried to run. After the shootings, Hernandez and Carrera fled. Later that night, Hernandez reportedly bragged at a bar that he had killed three people.

Police questioned people connected to the case soon after the murders. Carrera was later prosecuted for his role and eventually received a 15-year prison sentence. Hernandez fled across the border into Mexico and remained at large for nearly 10 years. In March 2008, Mexican authorities arrested Hernandez and turned him over to Brownsville authorities. He was held without bond and later certified to stand trial as an adult, even though he had been a juvenile when the murders happened.

On January 7, 2011, Hernandez appeared before Judge Arturo C. Nelson and pleaded guilty to killing Jason Sexton, Roberto Moreno, and Ricardo Mata. When asked how he pleaded, he answered, “Guilty.” He said he was pleading guilty because he had committed the crime. The court sentenced Hernandez to 35 years in prison for each murder. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, meaning he received a total 35-year prison term.