18-year-old Savanah Nicole Soto and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Matthew Guerra, were found dead from gunshot wounds in Guerra’s Kia Optima. The devastating discovery was made on Tuesday, according to reports from KSAT, citing both the victim’s relatives and the San Antonio police.
The grim scene also revealed the loss of an unborn baby, pronounced dead alongside the young couple. Though the police have not officially confirmed the victims’ identities, Soto’s sister-in-law, Joanie Wasil, informed KSAT that she was contacted by someone on Facebook who noticed the car, prompting her to report the finding to authorities.
The family’s concerns escalated when Soto, a Leon Valley teen, failed to appear at the hospital for her scheduled induction on Saturday, raising alarms among her loved ones. The tragic unfolding of events adds to the complexity of the situation, as Guerra had been arrested on December 29, 2022, for violating the conditions of his bail on an assault charge by contacting Soto in person.
Court records revealed that in June, a judge had granted Guerra probation for a family violence case, allowing him contact with Soto under specific conditions. However, a history of legal issues plagued Guerra, including charges of unlawful carrying of a weapon, evading arrest in a vehicle, and reckless driving. These incidents led to an extension of his probation until February 2025.
Disturbingly, Guerra, despite the terms of his probation, was forbidden from owning firearms. This restriction proved to be tragically ineffective, given the circumstances of the couple’s demise. Soto’s family had also hinted at Guerra’s abusive behavior towards the young expectant mother before the tragic incident unfolded.
The unanswered question looms: Could more have been done to prevent this tragedy? News4SanAntonio reporter Mariah Medina raised concerns about Guerra’s extensive criminal history over the past 12 months, questioning whether it was normal for him not to be on an ankle monitor given his arrest history.
The legal system’s decision to grant probation to Guerra, despite his escalating charges and failure to comply with intervention programs, has left many questioning the effectiveness of the justice system in protecting victims of domestic violence. Guerra’s initial probation, set to expire in June 2024, was extended after a series of unrelated charges and failure to adhere to court-mandated programs.
In the wake of this heart-wrenching incident, the community is left grappling with the devastating consequences of domestic violence. Soto’s family, who had expressed concerns about Guerra’s abusive behavior on social media before the tragedy unfolded, now mourns the loss of a young life filled with promise and the unborn child whose potential will never be realized.
As investigations continue, the case raises important questions about the efficacy of legal interventions in cases of domestic violence and the need for a more comprehensive approach to ensure the safety of victims. The heartbreaking story of Savanah Nicole Soto serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for support systems and preventative measures to protect those at risk in abusive relationships.
