Father, son in Texas arrested in murder of pregnant teen Savanah Soto and boyfriend

Texas police arrested a father and son on Wednesday night in connection with the murder of a teenager, who was nine months pregnant, and her boyfriend, authorities said.

Christopher Preciado, 19, faces a charge of capital murder for the killings of Savanah Soto, 18, and Matthew Guerra, 22, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Ramon Preciado, 53, was arrested on a charge of abuse of a corpse. Additional charges are pending, including charges that would add Soto's unborn child as a victim in the case.

Sgt. Washington Moscoso said in a news conference that Christopher Preciado "committed the murders" just before midnight on Dec. 21 at an unidentified location. Moscoso said Ramon Preciado then "helped dump the bodies," which were later discovered with fatal gunshot wounds in a car parked at an apartment complex in northwest San Antonio.

The incidents stem from a "narcotics-related deal that went bad," Moscoso said. He added that there's solely a "drug connection" between Christopher Preciado and the young couple.

Soto missed pregnancy-related appointment

Soto was reported missing by her family on the day she missed her labor induction appointment, which is typically done when a mother has not gone into labor after her scheduled due date.

Inside Guerra's silver Kia, where the bodies were discovered, police found a key piece of evidence: Soto's cellphone. The phone, in addition to help from the U.S. Secret Service, partially led investigators to a vehicle that the police department had earlier identified as being used by suspects in the case.

Father, son arrested after police interrogation

On Wednesday, officers followed the vehicle to a home in San Antonio. When they knocked on the front door, Ramon Preciado answered.

"He knew why police were there," Moscoso said.

The father cooperated with investigators and, with his son Christopher Preciado, went to police headquarters, where they were both interrogated, Moscoso said. "Based on what they said," police obtained a warrant for their arrest Wednesday night.

Just before the news conference Wednesday night, San Antonio police conducted a perp walk in which they escorted the father and son into a marked vehicle while news reporters swarmed them. In response to whether or not he felt remorse, Ramon Preciado didn't respond but instead accused the media of lying.

Christopher Preciado, who did not respond to questions posed by reporters Wednesday night, has no prior criminal history. His father does have a criminal record, Moscoso said.

There are no additional suspects in the case.

"Our detectives are going to do everything they can to bring justice to the families," Moscoso said.

It's unclear if the son and father have legal representation as of Thursday morning.

Christopher Cann is a breaking news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him via email at [email protected] or follow him on X @ChrisCannFL.