Authorities announced on Wednesday that an arrest has been made in the murder of a pregnant teenager and her boyfriend.
Christopher Preciado, 19, was taken into custody on suspicion of capital murder in the deaths of 18-year-old Savanah Soto and 22-year-old Matthew Guerra. The bodies of the couple were discovered last week in a car in San Antonio, as per CNN .
Texas Dad, Son Killed Pregnant Woman, Boyfriend
A video released by the San Antonio Police Department on Thursday showed two persons of interest in the shooting deaths. The victims, Savanah Nicole Soto and Matthew Guerra, were reported missing before their bodies were found in Guerra's car. Soto, who was nine months pregnant, had been scheduled to give birth on the day of their disappearance.
The medical examiner's office confirmed that the bodies found in the car belonged to Guerra and Soto. Both victims had suffered gunshot wounds. The video released by the police showed one person driving a dark pickup truck and another person driving Guerra's Kia Optima. The video was recorded near the location where the bodies were found, according to Police Chief Bill McManus.
During a briefing, McManus stated that the video showed the driver of the Kia Optima wiping down the car, but it couldn't be confirmed if the two individuals in the video had any connection to the victims. The police believe that Guerra and Soto were killed elsewhere before being taken to the location where they were found.
The manner of death and the exact motive behind the killings are still under investigation. McManus did not rule out the possibility of a murder-suicide, but it is not believed to be the case at this time. Soto's mother, Gloria Cordova, expressed her belief that her daughter was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. She stated that Soto had been in an abusive relationship with Guerra and that she had advised her daughter to leave him.
Laura Cordova, Soto's aunt, also revealed that Guerra had been physically abusive towards Soto during her pregnancy. Guerra's father confirmed that his son had a criminal history, including an assault charge involving Savanah the previous year. Despite their troubled relationship, both Soto's mother and aunt claim that Soto was excited to become a mother, according to CBS News.
Arrests Made in Texas Murder Case
Two suspects, Christopher Preciado, 19, and Ramon Preciado, 53, were arrested in connection with the murders. Christopher will be charged with capital murder, while Ramon will face charges of abusing a corpse. Sgt. Washington Moscoso stated that additional charges are possible.
Soto's cellphone, which was collected at the crime scene, proved to be a crucial piece of evidence in the investigation. Detectives were able to track a possible location of the suspect's vehicle using the phone data. This led the police to the residence connected to the vehicle, where they interviewed both the father and son.
Based on the information gathered during the interview, the police obtained a search warrant, leading to the arrests. Moscoso suggested that the motive behind the murder may be linked to a narcotics deal gone wrong. The district attorney will determine whether additional charges will be filed regarding the death of Soto's unborn child.
Both suspects were escorted by police to waiting vehicles, and their booking photos were released shortly after their arrest. The victims, identified as Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra, had been found deceased in a Kia Optima, along with their unborn child. The authorities believe that the vehicle had been parked at the location for several days before the discovery.
The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement continuing the search for answers in this tragic case. The community remains shocked and saddened by the loss of two young lives and the unborn child, who never had the chance to come into the world.
Anyone with information concerning this case is urged to contact the San Antonio Police Department or local authorities immediately, ABC News reported.