🚨 HOLIDAY JOY TURNED TO HORROR IN SAN ANTONIO 🚨

Christmas cheer shattered in an instant. 18-year-old Savanah Soto—nine months pregnant, just days from induction—was supposed to welcome her baby boy into the world. Instead, she and her boyfriend Matthew Guerra, 22, vanished right before the holidays… only to be found shot dead in a locked car on December 26, 2023. Their unborn son, Fabian, never got the chance to take a breath. 💔

What started as a frantic family search exploded into a triple tragedy when chilling surveillance footage surfaced—showing a father-son duo linked to the scene, driving the victims’ car away after what cops called a botched drug deal gone deadly.

Full details:

What began as a desperate holiday search for a missing pregnant teenager ended in heartbreak when 18-year-old Savanah Nicole Soto and her 22-year-old boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, were discovered fatally shot inside a locked vehicle on December 26, 2023. The couple’s unborn son, Fabian Noel Guerra, also perished in the incident, turning the case into a triple homicide that gripped the community and led to swift arrests of a father and son.

Soto, who was nine months pregnant and scheduled for labor induction on December 23, was last seen leaving her family’s home in the Leon Valley area. Relatives became alarmed when she failed to appear for her medical appointment and could not be reached. Family members launched immediate searches, organizing prayer circles and canvassing neighborhoods. Guerra was also reported missing around the same time, with his family confirming police involvement.

On December 26, a resident of an apartment complex in the Medical Center area—roughly in the 5900 block of Danny Kaye—alerted authorities after spotting a gray 2013 Kia Optima matching the description of Guerra’s vehicle. Inside the locked car, police found Soto in the front passenger seat and Guerra in the backseat, both suffering fatal gunshot wounds to the head. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled both deaths homicides. No firearm or cell phones were initially recovered from the vehicle, though Soto’s phone later proved pivotal.

San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus described the crime scene as “very, very perplexing.” Investigators classified the case as capital murder, partly due to the death of the unborn child under Texas law. Early theories pointed to a narcotics-related incident, with evidence from the victims’ phones suggesting involvement in drug activity.

Surveillance footage released by police showed two persons of interest: one driving a dark Chevrolet Silverado with a bed cover, the other in Guerra’s Kia Optima. The videos captured interactions near the discovery site days before the bodies were found. Police used Soto’s cellphone data, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, to trace leads to a suspect vehicle and a residence.

On January 3, 2024, authorities arrested Christopher Preciado, 19, charging him with capital murder. His father, Ramon Preciado, 53, faced initial charges of abuse of a corpse for allegedly helping move the bodies after the killings. Additional charges followed, including tampering with or concealing evidence and altering/destroying a human corpse. Police recovered a firearm from the Preciados’ home believed to be the murder weapon.

According to affidavits and police statements, Christopher Preciado met Soto and Guerra on December 21 for what he described as a marijuana transaction. The deal allegedly went wrong, leading to the shootings at an undisclosed location. Christopher reportedly called his father for assistance afterward. Ramon helped relocate the vehicle to the apartment complex parking lot, where it remained until discovered.

A third suspect, Myrta Romanos (Ramon’s wife and Christopher’s stepmother), was later arrested in January 2024 on charges of abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering. Surveillance placed her at the scene when the suspects returned home in the pickup truck. Romanos’ bond was reduced in early 2025, but later requests were denied. In November 2025, charges against her were dropped during jury selection, a move that blindsided the victims’ families, who learned of it via social media.

The case drew intense public attention due to its timing during the Christmas season and the involvement of an unborn child. Families held vigils at Kenwood Park and other locations, releasing balloons and sharing photos from baby showers. Soto’s mother, Gloria Cordova, and Guerra’s father, Gabriel Guerra, spoke publicly about their grief and commitment to justice. A GoFundMe supported funeral costs and family needs.

In April 2025, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Capital Crimes Committee declined to pursue the death penalty against Christopher Preciado after protests from both families, who argued the crime’s gruesomeness warranted it. Relatives pushed for “Fabian’s Law,” proposed legislation to deny bond eligibility for those involved in the death of an unborn child.

Civil litigation followed: In March 2025, Guerra’s father and Soto’s mother filed a wrongful death suit against the Preciados and Romanos, seeking over $1 million in damages. Christopher Preciado asserted innocence in the civil matter. As of early 2026, Christopher Preciado remains in custody awaiting trial, set for February 2026 in the 290th Criminal District Court. Ramon Preciado posted bond in February 2025.

The tragedy highlighted broader issues of youth violence, drug-related crime, and domestic challenges. Court records showed Guerra had prior charges including unlawful carrying of a weapon, evading arrest, and a domestic assault case from the previous Christmas involving Soto as the complainant. No motive beyond the alleged botched deal has been publicly confirmed.

Community response included calls for stronger mental health and anti-violence resources. Families continued advocating for accountability, with Gabriel Guerra stating they refused to let the losses fade without change. Over two years later, delays in the legal process frustrated relatives, who emphasized preserving memories of Savanah, Matthew, and Fabian.

The case remains ongoing, with no trial conclusion as investigations and proceedings continue. For two San Antonio families, the 2023 holidays marked an irreversible loss—one that began with hope for new life and ended in profound sorrow.