BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – The capital murder trial of Christopher Preciado is set to continue, with testimony resuming on Monday morning following significant revelations from a witness last week. The proceedings are slated to begin around 10:30 a.m.
During the testimony on Friday, the witness detailed the location of a truck owned by Preciado’s father, Ramon Preciado, shortly after the tragic deaths of Matthew Guerra, Savanah Soto, and their unborn child in December 2023.
Christopher Preciado is charged with their murders, which prosecutors assert occurred within a vehicle where investigators later discovered extensive blood evidence. Surveillance footage had previously shown Ramon Preciado’s truck near the scene, and GPS data traced its route from the Preciado family home to the couple’s apartment complex on Grissom Road.
The truck reportedly remained at the apartment complex for about 15 minutes. Tragically, two days later, the bodies of Guerra and Soto, along with their unborn child, were discovered in a vehicle on Danny Kaye Drive.
A forensic expert from the Bexar County Crime Lab testified that the DNA evidence collected from the vehicle did not match that of Christopher Preciado. This detail adds a layer of complexity to the case, as it raises questions regarding his involvement.
In a notable incident, when approached with legal documents, Ramon Preciado initially refused to accept them but later picked them up from the ground, which suggests a degree of evasiveness.
If convicted, Christopher Preciado faces a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Background
Savanah Soto was due to be induced for childbirth on December 22, 2023, but she never attended her appointment. Her last known communication was on December 21, 2023, leading her family to report her missing after her absence became concerning. A statewide CLEAR Alert was issued on Christmas Day.
Authorities discovered Soto and Guerra’s bodies in Guerra’s vehicle on December 26, 2023, at an apartment complex in Leon Valley. Following an investigation, Christopher Preciado was arrested on January 3, 2024, and charged with capital murder. His father, Ramon Preciado, faced charges related to tampering with evidence and abuse of a human corpse.
The family of Soto and Guerra did not have any prior knowledge of the Preciado family, highlighting the unforeseen nature of the conflict that led to the tragic events. Reports indicate that the fatal altercation stemmed from a drug deal gone awry.
Christopher Preciado has claimed that Guerra threatened him with a gun, which he managed to “manipulate,” resulting in the shooting of both Soto and Guerra. This assertion raises further questions about the self-defense claim and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In February 2025, Ramon Preciado was released from custody after his bail was adjusted. Meanwhile, Myrta Romanos, Christopher’s mother, was arrested for allegedly attempting to cover up the crime but later had all charges dismissed.
The trial against Christopher Preciado is progressing, expected to last over a week. The witness list includes law enforcement officials, expert witnesses, and family members of the victims, alongside the Preciado family members, though it remains unclear if they will testify.
