Jury Selection Begins in Capital Murder Case Over the 2023 Killings of Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra
A closely watched Bexar County case moves toward trial
Jury selection is set to begin in Bexar County for Christopher Preciado, the defendant charged with capital murder in the deaths of Savanah Nicole Soto, Matthew Guerra, and Soto’s unborn child. The case stems from a late-December 2023 investigation that drew wide attention in San Antonio after Soto, 18, who was pregnant, and Guerra were reported missing and later found shot to death inside a vehicle.
Prosecutors have alleged the killings occurred in the course of a drug-related encounter and that multiple people took steps after the shootings to move the victims and conceal evidence. Preciado was charged with capital murder of multiple persons. Court records and prior public statements in the case have also referenced additional allegations including abuse of a corpse and tampering with a human corpse.
What investigators have said happened in December 2023
Soto and Guerra were last seen shortly before Christmas 2023. A CLEAR Alert was issued for Soto during the search. On Dec. 26, 2023, officers located the couple dead inside a Kia in the Medical Center area of San Antonio. The deaths were investigated as a triple homicide because Soto’s unborn child also died.
Authorities later announced arrests in the case, including Preciado and his father, Ramon Preciado. Investigators have described a sequence in which the victims were shot, followed by efforts to transport and reposition the bodies and vehicle. The investigation also drew scrutiny because key items were not publicly detailed as being recovered at the scene at the time the bodies were found.
Death penalty not being sought
Although Preciado is charged with capital murder, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office has previously stated it would not pursue the death penalty in this case. Under Texas law, that decision leaves life in prison without the possibility of parole as the maximum sentence if a jury convicts on capital murder.
Related cases and shifting posture for other defendants
The broader case has involved additional defendants and charges beyond the capital murder count. One of the related prosecutions—connected to allegations of moving or concealing bodies and evidence—has seen significant developments, including dismissals reported in late 2025 for a defendant previously charged with tampering and abuse-of-corpse counts.
Those developments narrow the focus of the current proceeding to the core homicide allegations as jury selection begins for the remaining capital murder prosecution.
What happens during jury selection
During voir dire, prosecutors and defense attorneys question a pool of prospective jurors to determine whether they can be fair and impartial. In a capital murder case where the death penalty is not on the table, jurors are still asked to consider whether they can evaluate evidence involving multiple alleged victims, apply the court’s instructions, and render a verdict beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Charges: capital murder (multiple victims), with additional allegations referenced in prior filings and public summaries.
- Potential maximum penalty if convicted: life imprisonment without parole.
- Key upcoming steps: juror questioning, panel selection, opening statements, and witness testimony.
The defendant is presumed innocent. The burden remains on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court is expected to address scheduling matters and pretrial motions as selection proceeds, with trial testimony to follow once a jury is seated.