Two years after his prom, Houston man Eddie Herrera was sentenced to 25 years in jail for the death of his prom date during their 2014 prom, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Herrera, 20, attended prom with 17-year-old Jacqueline Gomez. The two had consensual sex after drinking almost two bottles of whiskey as well as taking prescription drugs. During the sex, Gomez apparently asked Herrera to squeeze her neck.
The Houston Chronicle reports that prosecutors believe Herrera purposefully choked Gomez until she passed out, then woke up to find her dead. His defense team worked to convince the jury that Gomez died of an overdose, but their efforts fell short.
Herrera’s mother has also been charged and is awaiting trial for her part in the crime. She apparently gave Herrera and Gomez drugs and alcohol, and booked their hotel room.
“This is just incredibly sad because it could’ve all been prevented,” Justin Wood, a lawyer for the prosecution, told KHOU.