BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – The trial of Christopher Preciado, who is charged with capital murder, is currently underway. Testimony is expected to resume Wednesday morning at around 9:30 a.m.
On Tuesday, the prosecution presented evidence from Preciado’s private Instagram messages. These messages are crucial for the state as they aim to demonstrate that Preciado was driven by monetary motives when he allegedly killed Matthew Guerra, Savanah Soto, and their unborn child in December 2023.
Detective Jeremy Goodwin from the San Antonio Police Department was called to testify. His previous interrogation of Preciado was shown to jurors on Monday, and he spent over three hours answering questions on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Melissa Alban questioned Goodwin about Preciado’s social media activity before and after the murders. One particularly revealing message sent just a day before the murders included a promise to “have your money” by Friday and an inquiry about the price of a car battery.
Two days later, Preciado messaged about two rings, one possibly being a “Versace.” On Christmas Eve, he mentioned getting “the rest” from an apartment complex on “Grissom” Road, where Guerra and Soto lived.
Investigators found that rings belonging to Guerra were pawned shortly after the murders, with Preciado allegedly using that money to buy new tires.
In the days following Guerra’s death, Preciado posted Instagram stories expressing grief, with one saying “rest in paradise” and another reflecting on the harsh realities of life, stating, “You either end up an OG, dead, or locked up.”
Prosecutors believe these messages indicate a clear motive for Preciado, contrasting his defense claim of self-defense. However, Detective Goodwin acknowledged that there was no fingerprint evidence linking Preciado to the murder weapon, nor were there any witnesses who could confirm he pulled the trigger.
Preciado is facing serious charges for the deaths of Guerra, Soto, and their unborn child. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison without the chance of parole.
Background
Savanah Soto was about to give birth when she and Guerra went missing. Soto was supposed to be induced on December 22, 2023, but she never arrived for her appointment. Family members reported them missing after not hearing from them since December 21.
On December 26, police discovered Soto and Guerra’s bodies in a vehicle at an apartment complex in Leon Valley. Preciado, who was 19 at the time, was arrested on January 3, 2024, and charged with capital murder. His father, Ramon Preciado, was also arrested for tampering with evidence, and later, his mother, Myrta Romanos, was charged with attempting to cover up the crime.
There is no known connection between the Preciados and the families of Soto and Guerra, and the dispute leading to the tragic incident reportedly originated from a drug deal.
Christopher Preciado has claimed that Guerra pulled a gun on him, and during the struggle, both Soto and Guerra were shot. As the trial continues, it is expected to last more than a week, featuring testimonies from law enforcement, family members, and potentially the Preciados.
