SAN ANTONIO — A possible murder weapon was recovered in the shooting deaths of a pregnant woman and her boyfriend, SAPD Chief William McManus said in a news conference Friday.
The update comes two days after a father and son were arrested in the December 21 capital murders of Savanah Soto, who was nine-months pregnant, and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra. Their bodies were found in a Kia Optima parked outside a medical center area apartment complex.
19-year-old Christopher Preciado is facing several charges including capital murder and charges related to hiding the bodies. His father, 53-year-old Ramon Preciado was called an "accessory" to the murder and is facing two charges related to hiding the bodies.
At the news conference, Chief McManus said the firearm used in the murder was found in the suspect's home.
An arrest affidavit states, Christopher Preciado admitted to police he was meeting Savanah and Matthew for a marijuana deal. Christopher claimed Matthew pointed a gun at him which is what led up to the shootings. However, detectives said his claims were inconsistent with the couple’s gunshot wounds. Another arrest report says Ramon arrived to meet his son at the apartment complex in a Chevrolet Silverado truck and attempted to help hide the bodies.
The chief also responded to a question from the media about a possible second person in the truck who was at the scene at the apartment complex.
"That is something that they are still looking into, it is something that has been brought up in conversation about this. So we are still looking into that," Chief McManus said.
Savanah was nine-months pregnant with her baby, whom she and Guerra had named Fabian. Savanah was a week past due when she was scheduled to be induced to give birth on Dec. 23.
At the news conference Friday, District Attorney Joe Gonzales was asked if the death of the unborn child would be included in the charges at some point.
"We have enough to charge Christopher Preciado with capital murder because we have two adult victims," Gonzales said. "Under Texas law and whatever period of gestation, that unborn child is considered a person under Texas law for the purposes of including an unborn child as an additional charge for capital murder."
Gonzales said SAPD investigators intend to file three capital murder charges, but that detectives are still completing their investigation.
"We have every intention of including the unborn child as an additional count for capital murder, but again, we will have to wait until the case is filed," Gonzales said.
See the full news conference below: