Prosecutors: Petty officer found dead in Mexico ‘had severe health problems’

A petty officer found dead in a Mexico hotel earlier this year had “severe health problems” that restricted his ability to safely travel, according to court records obtained by Navy Times.

The body of Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Edgar M. Balderrama was discovered in a Hermosillo motel room on Feb. 4, and what happened to the 31-year-old remains unclear four months later.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service spokesman Jeff Houston declined to comment Wednesday, citing an ongoing probe.

While Navy leaders have remained mum on the case, revelations about Balderrama’s health came to light after charges were filed in April against another sailor — Airman Apprentice Zachary A. Addis — who allegedly traveled to Mexico with the petty officer.

Addis and Balderrama were stationed with different strike fighter squadrons at California’s Naval Air Station Lemoore.

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Few details are available regarding what happened to the petty officer.

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Addis’ charge sheet alleges he journeyed to Mexico “without proper authorization while in an unauthorized absence status” with Balderrama from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, the day Balderrama’s body was found.

Prosecutors claim that Addis knew about Balderrama’s health issues, and that constituted “conduct likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm” to the petty officer.

Addis, 21, was also charged with failing to receive proper authority to travel to Mexico “and that such dereliction of duty resulted in the death” of Balderrama, the filings indicate.

The charge sheet does not specify whether Balderrama also traveled there without authorization.

Addis’ military attorney did not respond to a request for comment submitted through Navy spokesman Kevin Dixon.

Members of Balderrama’s family declined comment.

Addis was taken to special court-martial on May 22, found guilty and sentenced to a bad conduct discharge, 180 days confinement and reduction in rank to E-1, according to court records.

Under a pretrial agreement, Navy judge Capt. Jonathan Stephens dismissed the charges connecting Addis to Balderrama’s death, according to records.

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The petty officer allegedly took $500 from the head of a carrier strike group.

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But the junior sailor still pleaded guilty to being absent from his unit from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4 and for an earlier unauthorized absence from Aug. 6 to Oct. 9.

Addis also pleaded guilty to using and distributing cocaine in June 2018 and for obstructing justice when he requested another sailor “hide his steroids” from Lemoore investigators that same month, charge sheets show.

The Florida native has been incarcerated at the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar in San Diego since Feb. 5, according to his service record.

He received credit for 106 days he had already served.

Located about 170 miles south of the international border, Hermosillo is the largest city and capital of Sonora state.

Balderrama, a Texas native, had been assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 122 since 2016.

Addis arrived at Strike Fighter Squadron 154 in April 2017, his first duty station out of school, according to service records.

About Geoff Ziezulewicz

Geoff is the editor of Navy 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.