Texas Father, Son Arrested In Connection With Pregnant Teen, Boyfriend Found Shot

A father and son in Texas were arrested and charged in connection with the murders of a man and his pregnant teenage girlfriend who was set to be induced to give birth, according to authorities.

Christopher Preciado, 19, was charged with capital murder; abuse of a corpse; and altering, concealing or destroying evidence. His father, Ramon Perciado, 53, was arrested on the charges of abuse of a corpse; and altering, concealing or destroying evidence for allegedly helping his son move the slain victims’ bodies, a law enforcement official said at a January 2024 news conference.

On Dec. 26, 2023, officers discovered the two murder victims, later identified as Savanah Soto, 18, and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Matthew Guerra, inside a Kia Optima outside a San Antonio apartment complex.

Both suffered gunshot wounds and died during what law enforcement officials have described as a “narcotic-related deal that went bad,” CNN reported.

According to the outlet, SAPD Chief William McManus called the chaotic crime scene “very, very perplexing” and noted that Soto and Guerra’s bodies may have been in their vehicle for days before they were found.

Citing police in Leon Valley, Texas, CNN reported family grew concerned after Soto, who was past her due date, failed to show up for a medical appointment.

“Detectives learned that both victims were involved in the sale of narcotics and used their cell phones to conduct much of their business,” Chief McManus said at the Jan. 5 news conference.

According to McManus, investigators were able to “extract information” from Soto’s device and pinpoint on Jan. 3 the location of a dark-colored Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck seen on surveillance video driving up to the victims’ vehicle and then leaving a short time later.

The police chief said officers knocked on the door of a home where the truck was parked and spoke with Ramon Preciado, who “seemed to know why SAPD was there” and cooperated with the investigation.

Ramon Preciado and his teenage son, Christopher Preciado, were both brought in for questioning. “During the interviews, both suspects made enough statements to implicate them in the murders,” McManus said.

A gun believed to be the murder weapon was later recovered in the Preciado family’s home, according to the police chief.

The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors have not indicated if they will file charges in connection with the death of Soto’s unborn son, who she planned to name Fabian, according to Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales.

“The District Attorney’s Office will await the filing of the complete case investigation in order to thoroughly review the facts and make the appropriate charging decisions,” Gonzales noted.

Jordan Corona, Soto’s brother, denied that she was involved with drugs before her death. “My sister was a little sweetheart. She didn't even like being near smoke,” Corona, 30, told NBC News. “I guess it was just one of those wrong-place, wrong-time situations. She doesn't get around that type of stuff. Of course, her boyfriend was the way he was, but as far as her, no.”

Corona also said he and loved ones “didn’t approve” of his younger sister’s relationship with Guerra. “We tried to tell her, ‘That's not what you need,’” he said. “Of course, at that age, you feel like you know everything. Love is powerful at that age. We couldn't separate them.”

NBC News reported Soto’s murder comes just 19 months after the shooting death of her 15-year-old brother, Ethan Soto, during an alleged money dispute.