DA: Second suspect in Gomez case questioned

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel revealed to NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday that there is a second suspect being questioned in the disappearance and apparent slaying of Sara Gomez.

“We have a suspect, and we are talking to that suspect, and we are chasing down leads, and we are analyzing evidence. And that is where we are,” Hummel said.

Hummel said investigators are still searching for Gomez’s body, nearly two months after she disappearance, and are not giving up.

Gomez,a 24-year-old Bend woman, was last seen leaving her workplace, the Bend North Albertsons, on Feb. 19, and has been the subject of extensive searches by police, friends and family ever since.

Her ex-boyfriend, Bryan Penner, 31, was arrested two days later in a raid on his northeast Bend apartment and held on charges of violating an active restraining order involving Gomez. Police said evidence tied to the disappearance was found at his apartment, and Hummel said at the time that prosecutors believed Penner was the only person involved in her death.

Penner took his own life in the showers in the Deschutes County Jail showers in mid-March. An investigation continues in his suicide

Hummel said he wants to find out if anyone helped Penner in the murder of Gomez, or helped with disposing the body.

“We have at least one other suspect out there. If I reveal information that suspect may or may not already know, if I put that(evidence) out there, that is going to put that suspect on notice as to the evidence we already have,” Hummel said.

Hummel is not releasing the name or the gender of the suspect but did confirm the suspect was being questioned by investigators.