I'm two days late, but I've also transcribed the second presser. My apologies for the delay.
Good afternoon, thank you for being here. I’m going to provide you with an update on the Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra case. First and foremost, once again, SAPD wants to send our condolences to the families of Savanah and Matthew. Today, as you saw, we just made another arrest. This is the third arrest in this case.
Just to recap, back on December 23rd, Leon Valley PD reported that Savanah and Matthew Guerra – they were reported missing to their jurisdiction. On December 26, SAPD officers received a phone call for a disturbance. When those officers made that location, they discovered the bodies of Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra. They were found deceased in their vehicle – the Kia Optima that had also been reported missing. Since then, our homicide unit has done an outstanding job in following this case. They followed every lead. They were able to get surveillance video which led them to these arrests that were made.
On January 3rd, we made two arrests. 19-year-old Christopher Preciado and 53-year-old Ramon Preciado. There was a lot of information on social media that there was a third individual involved. Our homicide detectives were aware of that; however, we were looking for enough probable cause to make that arrest and to present the best case forward to the DA’s office. Today, that happened. They were able to develop enough evidence to charge 47-year-old Myrta Romanos. That’s M-Y-R-T-A R-O-M-A-N-O-S. She is believed to be - I’m not sure exactly what the relationship is but maybe a stepmother to Christoper, 19-year-old Christopher. She is being charged with three felonies. The first one being alter, destroy, conceal a human corpse, which is a second-degree felony. She’s also being charged with abuse of corpse, which is a state jail felony. And a third charge, tampering with evidence. Through our forensic unit, we were able to develop information from surveillance video that shows Ms. Romanos involved the night of the murder. That video surveillance shows her at the home right after the murders, and she was seen on video surveillance leaving in that black truck that we all saw on the surveillance video and then returning to her home with Christopher and Ramon in that truck.
At this time, I’ll take any questions that you might have.
Q: It was her weapon, right?
A: Excuse me?
Q: They matched her weapon to the ballistics?
A: Right. That tampering with evidence, from what we understand, she stated that was her gun. So, we do know that that was her weapon.
Q: And do they believe they were killed in that home and what was the mother’s -- the stepmom’s role in the murders?
A: I’m not sure where – we haven’t released any of that information. I’m not sure what the circumstances were, but we do know she was involved in helping get rid of the evidence concerning those bodies.
Q: [Unintelligible] under the impression there were two suspects or [unintelligible] two suspects that were arrested?
A: No, our homicide detectives were aware early on in the investigation that there was a third person involved. We know that from the video surveillance when there is that towel that everyone has talked about being thrown. At that time, we just didn’t have enough evidence to say that that was Ms. Romanos. But like I said, since then they’ve developed enough evidence from surveillance video from the home showing her leaving with the two as she gets in that truck and then returning to the home. It’s her, Christopher, and Ramon in that truck.
Q: Had she called you guys in the past week to come to the home? Because I know there’s been some vandalism there.
A: I’m not aware of anything.
Q: Right now, are you under the impression that there are any more suspects?
A: At this time, we’re confident that there’s no more suspects. At this time, we’re confident that these were the three individuals that were involved in this case.
Q: Do you believe this is connected somehow to a larger ring, crime ring or something like that?
A: No, we don’t have any information to lead us to believe that. We do know there was, I guess, a transaction earlier in that night. What happened and transpired is that Matthew Guerra and Savanah were killed.
Q: So, you guys still don’t know where they were killed? At the home or somewhere else?
A: We believe it was in that area. Right near their home.
Q: How cooperative was she?
A: How cooperative was she? You know, I know there was a search warrant that was issued a few days ago. There was a search warrant, so they had the authority to go into that home. Today I don’t believe she said much.
Q: What happened to the towel?
A: Uh, I don’t have that information.
Any other questions?
Q: Did she confess to anything?
A: Uh, she wasn’t cooperative today.
Thank you, guys.
Q: So, she’s the stepmother?
A: We believe she’s the stepmom.
Q: Is she still married to Ramon or?
A: I don’t know if it’s a common law. They’re living together. I don’t believe they’re legally married, but I’m not for sure.
Q: [Unintelligible]
A: She did – them three did live in the house together.
Thank you.
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