Nearly two months after his death, Navy officials continue to investigate what happened to Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Edgar M. Balderrama in a Mexican hotel room.
Mexican authorities found Balderrama, 31, deceased in the room in Hermosillo on Feb. 4, according to Lt. Travis Callaghan, a Naval Air Forces spokesman, and Naval Safety Center records.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is probing Balderrama’s death but declined comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Officials with the U.S. State Department referred Navy Times back to the military.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family members and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” Callaghan said.
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Neither family members nor the funeral home that handled Balderrama’s arrangements returned messages from Navy Times.
He leaves behind two children, according to his obituary.
Balderrama had been assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 122 at California’s Naval Air Station Lemoore since 2016, according to his service record.
A Texan, he enlisted in 2009. He was advanced to second class five years later.
All of his commands since joining the fleet have been headquartered in California, including stints at Naval Air Station North Island and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Located about 170 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, Hermosillo is the largest city in the state of Sonora and its capital.
Geoff is the managing editor of Military Times, but he still loves writing stories. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan extensively and was a reporter at the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any and all kinds of tips at geoffz@militarytimes.com.
