The San Antonio community is preparing to lay to rest Savanah Soto, 18, and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, 22, after the young couple was tragically found shot dead the day after Christmas. Soto, who was pregnant, and Guerra will be honored in funeral services set for this week, as shared by their mourning families. Savanah and her unborn child, whom she planned to name Fabian, will be laid to rest in a funeral toward the week's end, with details to be provided by the family.
The grim discovery of their bodies in Guerra's car has now led to charges against a father and son. According to the Bexar County Police, 19-year-old Christopher Preciado and his father, Ramon Preciado, were arrested and are facing multiple charges related to the murders. Christopher is charged with capital murder and Ramon with charges alleging assistance in hiding the bodies. Both are set to appear for pre-hearings in early February. The case, which Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales described as "a long road" to justice, is set to slowly wind its way through the legal process, as a case of this gravity demands thorough investigation beyond the initial arrests, according to an MSN report.
Visitation for Guerra will be held at Mission Park Funeral Chapel, with his funeral to follow the next day, culminating in a burial at San Jose Burial Park. Soto's funeral arrangements are being finalized and will be announced by her family at a later date, as per a KENS5 report.
The couple’s deaths have triggered a far-reaching investigation. The evidence so far points to a potential drug dispute as the motive for the crime. Both Soto and Guerra were found with gunshot wounds to the head, and there have been implications that Soto had been an active participant in Guerra's drug dealings. Surveillance footage and phone data were instrumental in leading the detectives to the Preciados. The police tracked the location of Ramon Preciado's vehicle and tied it to the scene where the couple's bodies were found. Once detained, Ramon Preciado seemingly confirmed his involvement in the crime and pointed to his son's participation, while Christopher Preciado provided an alibi that police deemed inconsistent with the evidence. The weapon believed to have been used in the killings was found at their residence, according to KENS5.
The case continues to develop as law enforcement seeks to fortify their findings with additional evidence. The precise legal procedures to come will depend on how the investigation pans out, but the district attorney has up to 90 days from the date of arrest to secure an indictment. Christopher Preciado faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted, due to the nature of the crime and Texas law on capital punishment. The final call on seeking the death penalty will be made by the district attorney's "capital crimes committee" and Gonzales himself, following a careful evaluation of the case particulars and the victim's family's sentiments.
