05 January 2024 , 11:10
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The 'drug dealer' boyfriend of pregnant teen Savanah Soto had flashed wads of cash on social media before the pair were found murdered in his car.
18-year-old Savanah was nine months pregnant when she and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, 22, were reported missing days before Christmas after she failed to show up for her scheduled induction date. The pair were found fatally shot three days after she was reported missing, on December 26 in San Antonio, Texas.
Their bodies were found just blocks away from the hospital where Savanah was set to give birth to her baby, which some have said she planned to call Fabian. According to the San Antonio Police Department, the young couple's bodies had been there for around four days before they were both found with gunshot wounds.
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The couple were found in Matthew's car
Matthew Guerra's family told authorities he was involved in drug dealing (TIkTok)19-year-old Christopher Preciado was arrested and charged with the pair's murder on Wednesday, January 3, after he is said to have admitted to killing the couple inside Matthew's car. However, police records show he claimed to have been acting in self-defence.
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Preciado's dad, Ramon Preciado, was also arrested along with his son, with authorities saying he allegedly helped to move Savanah and Matthew's bodies after they and their unborn child were killed. The younger Preciado is said to have told police that the couple had driven to his home to sell him marijuana when Matthew pulled out a weapon, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the San Antonio Express News.
Preciado has claimed he wrestled Matthew, the alleged drug dealer, for control of the gun, during which he fatally shot Matthew and his pregnant girlfriend. But police have said that his story is inconsistent with the fatal shots suffered by Matthew and Savanah, who they say had been shot in the head.
Christopher Preciado has been charged with the couple's murder (San Antonio PD)Ramon Preciado is then accused of helping his son to move the bodies to the car park of a nearby apartment complex in San Antonio. Investigators have said they believe that a drug deal gone wrong played a factor in the murders.
Matthew's family spoke to police not long after his and his pregnant girlfriend's bodies were found, saying that he had been involved in selling drugs. They also said that he often posted pictures on social media of both the wads of cash and drugs from his illicit activities.
"People wanted to rob the boyfriend, and it was stated that he had been shot at before", said the affidavit. However, Ramon Preciado has denied the drug-deal-gone-wrong theory as he was placed into a police car on Wednesday night.
Ramon Preciado was accused of helping his son to move the bodies (San Antonio PD)He even took aim at reporters who were asking if he had any remorse. He said: "Always fake news... Aren't you sorry for lying about what you're saying? You don't even know what's going on. You just make stuff up like always."
Police located the Preciados after surveillance footage was shared showing two men at the crime scene. One suspect was seen behind the wheel of Matthew's Kia Optima, driving into a car park- and pulling up to a dark pickup truck being driven by the other suspect.
The man in the truck was then spotted taking a white towel and wiping down the door of the Optima before the pair drove off. Police have said they believe Savanah and Matthew were already dead inside the car when the video was taken.
Savanah's mobile phone was found alongside her body, which proved key to tracing back to the crime scene, leading police to the security video. The vehicle identified in the video then led police to a house where they found the Preciaros.
Police sergeant Washington Moscoso said Ramon Preciado answered the door and cooperated with police and the investigation. Adding: "He knew why the police were there."
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Christopher Preciado has been indicted for capital murder. Meanwhile, his father Ramon is facing charges of abuse of a corpse, according to police, who said more charges are pending.