Christopher Preciado capital murder trial enters second week in San Antonio, focusing on forensic evidence issues
Case background and charges
The capital murder trial of Christopher Preciado moved into its second week in Bexar County District Court this week, centering on the December 2023 killings of Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra and their unborn child. Preciado has pleaded not guilty.
Authorities allege the shootings occurred on Dec. 21, 2023, after Soto and Guerra went to a home near the Northwest Side in connection with a marijuana sale. The victims’ bodies were later found inside a vehicle at an apartment complex in the 5900 block of Danny Kaye Drive on Dec. 26, 2023, after Soto’s family reported her missing when she did not arrive at a hospital appointment for an expected induction.
What investigators have said happened
Investigators have asserted that Preciado shot Soto and Guerra during an encounter at his residence and then drove Guerra’s vehicle to the nearby apartment complex where the bodies were discovered days later. Court documents tied to the early phase of the investigation also describe how a victim’s cellphone became a key lead, including a recent navigation search that directed detectives toward the suspect address and a pickup truck later connected to the case.
Preciado’s father, Ramon Preciado, was arrested in January 2024 and has faced charges tied to the handling and concealment of human remains. A third defendant, Myrta Romanos, was previously charged in connection with alleged efforts to conceal evidence, but her charges were later dismissed.
Why forensic testing became a central pretrial issue
The current trial schedule follows months of litigation over evidence processing and discovery timelines. The case’s trial date was moved to mid-March 2026 after the defense requested additional time, citing pending forensic work on a firearm that prosecutors intended to submit for testing for DNA and fingerprints.
Those disputes reflected a broader procedural tension that can arise in complex homicide prosecutions: the court must balance a defendant’s right to a timely trial with the need for complete testing and disclosure of evidence that could materially affect testimony and cross-examination.
What to watch in the second week
As proceedings enter the second week, testimony and exhibits are expected to continue building out three core areas of dispute:
The timeline linking the Dec. 21, 2023 encounter to the Dec. 26 discovery of the bodies and the movements of the vehicle.
Digital and physical evidence used to connect locations, vehicles and suspects, including surveillance footage described in early investigative filings.
Forensic work involving the firearm and other physical evidence, including how laboratory results are presented and how gaps or delays in testing are explained to jurors.
Potential outcomes and stakes
If convicted of capital murder, Preciado faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole under current case posture. The jury’s task is to determine whether prosecutors have proved the charged offenses beyond a reasonable doubt based on the totality of witness testimony and admitted evidence.
If you or someone you know has been affected by violent crime, local victim services can help families navigate court proceedings, safety planning and counseling resources.