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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Victim Lived for Children
By T.J. Wilham
Journal Staff Writer
Heather Reu lived for children.
She worked at a youth camp for underprivileged kids and taught Sunday school. And when doctors told Reu and her husband they couldn't have children of their own, Reu and her husband adopted four children who were living in foster homes in Vietnam or China.
She then gave up her career as a counselor to stay home with her children.
"Heather was always the type of person who put others before herself," said the Rev. Mike McLaughlin, a close friend who preached at her church, Crossroads Fellowship. "That was reflected in every aspect in her life ... her marriage, her children and her church."
Reu, 42, was on one of her many bike rides Tuesday along Paseo del Volcan near Double Eagle Airport when she was struck by a car.
She died instantly.
Moments after the crash, Daniel Gomez, 40, fled the scene, police said. He ran about 200 yards away from the airport into the open mesa.
A witness saw Gomez running on a dirt road, stopped his car, shouted at Gomez and made sure he stayed around for police, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Sgt. Brian Lindley said.
Deputies found a crack pipe in his car, cocaine residue on two folded $100 bills in his pockets and blackened finger tips — a sign he frequently smoked narcotics, according to a Metropolitan Court criminal complaint.
"He had to run by her to run the direction he ran. Someone who is remorseful would stay there and help with what could be done," Lindley said. "I think he was remorseful that he got caught. I don't think he is remorseful that he killed someone."
Gomez "adequately passed" sobriety tests. Deputies took a blood sample to see if he was under the influence of narcotics and took him to jail. He told deputies he had one beer, Lindley said.
Lindley said the tire of the vehicle Gomez was driving briefly left the roadway moments before he struck Reu. Gomez told investigators he looked down to pick up his cell phone, which had fallen to the seat.
Gomez was in custody on charges of possession of a controlled substance and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. His bail is set at $7,500.
Police say more charges could come once the blood tests are conducted.
Gomez, who told correctional officers he was born in Durango, Mexico, did not have felony arrests, according to New Mexico court records. He had received at least seven traffic citations and was jailed for driving on a suspended driver's license, failing to appear in court and failing to pay fines.
Helping others
"This is so tragic," said Reu's aunt, Helen Eklund. "You couldn't write anything bad about her because she was a wonderful person."
Raised in Indiana, Reu moved to New Mexico about six years ago after her husband got a job at Sandia National Laboratories. She decided then to be a stay-at-home mother.
Reu took up biking about two years ago after she was diagnosed with arthritis. Friends said she was working to participate in a triathlon.
She and her husband, Phil, adopted four children — two boys and two girls — within five years. The children are ages 7, 5, 4 and 3.
Reu organized camps for adopted kids who come overseas. She also taught Sunday school at Crossroads Fellowship, counseled teenagers and was secretary of the Lew Wallace Elementary School Parent Teacher Association.
Reu spent time blogging on Web sites for parents who had adopted international children. She talked about how to cook, do laundry and how to make sure a full house always has milk.
About a month ago, Reu posted this on a popular blog for adoptive parents: "Although now I'm done ... four is enough for me!! :) My oldest turns 7 tomorrow, youngest is 3.5. They are all tremendous blessings to us."
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