Autopsy reveals cause of death in killing of MS Coast mom, coroner says
Pass Christian resident and Florida native Joyce Gomez died of a single gunshot wound, Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said Friday.
The mother of two had been shot and killed within 30 to 36 hours of Harrison County authorities finding her body dumped off a dirt path off West Wittman Road around 11 a.m. Sunday.
Pass Christian Police Chief Daren Freeman said her last sighting occurred around 10:52 p.m. on Friday, April 25, in downtown Bay St. Louis.
Brett Huntley Keel, a 37-year-old convicted domestic violence abuser from Pass Christian, is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the killing. Gomez, 38, and Keel had been in an on-again, off-again dating relationship, though she had a domestic violence protection order in place against him.
The search for Gomez began after her father reported her missing Saturday.
According to details in a criminal affidavit, Gomez’s father told police he became concerned for his daughter’s safety after she hadn’t returned home from her scheduled shift at the Whiskey Bar in Pass Christian last Friday. Her father told police his daughter had recently reconnected with Keel after they had broken up.
The bar’s owner told the Sun Herald Gomez clocked out shortly after 10 p.m. the night she went missing. Gomez didn’t drop out of sight until after her last sighting with Keel in Bay St. Louis.
After authorities found her body, the investigator noted that she appeared to have injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma.
Bleach, blood, and a so-called alibi
During the criminal investigation into the killing, police found what appeared to be blood inside Keel’s gray Toyota Tundra and in the cab of the truck, along with a bottle of bleach and blood-stained clothing, according to Pass Christian Police Capt. Ryan Henry.
Police found that evidence and more after confronting Keel at the home he shared with his mother on Cedar Avenue in Pass Christian, the records say.
In the truck’s bed, police found what is believed to be blood-stained clothing, namely a white shirt and white shoes. In a subsequent search of Keel’s mother’s home, police confirmed the presence of blood both inside and outside the home, the investigator said.
When Keel briefly spoke to police, he told them he had been a patron at the Pass Christian bar during Gomez’s shift. Gomez also had recently started taking part-time shifts at Bacchus on the Beach.
Keel said he picked up Gomez after her shift ended at the bar, and then they went to Bay St. Louis. From there, he said he drove her to the beach at Brown Avenue in Pass Christian and dropped her off. He claims he dropped Gomez off there, that she walked home, and he drove home, the investigator said.
Keel is facing the tampering charge for allegedly using bleach or some other substance to try to cover evidence in the case. Gomez’s body had been doused in bleach or some other substance.
Visitation planned
Since Gomez’s death, the community of Pass Christian and beyond has reached out to offer the Gomez family help with funeral expenses and assistance for her two young children.
Gomez’s visitation is scheduled at 11 a.m. Sunday at Lockett Williams Mortuary at 2018 31st Avenue in Gulfport. Gomez will be laid to rest in Miami.
Keel remains jailed in Harrison County on a total bond of $1.5 million. In addition, he has a $10,000 bond in Hancock County from an outstanding warrant for assault there. Before that, Keel had been in and out of custody for misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence and other crimes.
