{"id":340158,"date":"2026-05-31T12:14:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T12:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/340158\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T12:14:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T12:14:23","slug":"illegal-immigrant-accused-in-triple-murder-including-infant-was-deported-three-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/340158\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal immigrant accused in triple murder, including infant, was deported three times"},"content":{"rendered":"

A deranged illegal migrant<\/a>, deported from the U.S. three times, is accused in the triple murder of an infant and two other women after California\u2019s controversial state sanctuary law<\/a> obstructed federal authorities who sought to deport him, The California Post has learned.<\/p>\n

Joaquin Escoto, 28 a Mexican national born in Jalisco, was deported from the U.S. three times and arrested for driving under the influence<\/a> once before he was arrested again in June for another DUI, a senior law enforcement official told The Post.<\/p>\n

23-year-old Fabiola Gonzalez and 54-year-old Silvia Nu\u00f1ez were among the victims of the vicious stabbing. FOX40<\/p>\n

@stocktonchronicle<\/a> <\/p>\n

New details have been released after a horrific stabbing in Modesto left two women and an infant dead. Police responded shortly after 9:20 a.m. to the 1600 block of Monterey Avenue and discovered a 23 year old woman suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. As officers searched the residence, they located a second victim, a 54 year old woman, and an infant, both suffering from apparent stab wounds. The 54 year old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the infant was transported to a hospital and later died. A 4 year old child was also found inside the home and transported for medical evaluation. Authorities identified the suspect as 28 year old Joaquin Escoto. Police say he was later found hiding inside a nearby residence and was taken into custody without incident. Investigators believe the suspect shared a child with one of the victims and currently believe this was an isolated incident. #stocktonchronicle<\/a> #modesto<\/a> #breakingnews<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c Disturbing \u2013 Perfect, so dystopian<\/a> <\/p>\n

On the day of Escoto\u2019s DUI arrest in June, which occurred in San Joaquin County, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials requested to be notified of the Modesto resident\u2019s release from jail so they could deport him again, according to the official. \u00a0<\/p>\n

But San Joaquin law enforcement officials hogtied by California\u2019s contested sanctuary law<\/a> \u2014 which limits how state and local law enforcement communicates with federal law enforcement \u2014 failed to notify the feds, and Escoto was set free, the official said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSafe to say, California law prohibited the jail from complying,\u201d said the official, who shared police documents that substantiated his claims with The Post.<\/p>\n

Now, less than one year after that request from ICE agents was ignored, Escoto is being held without bail on three counts of murder in the grisly knife slaying in Modesto of an infant and two women, including one with whom he allegedly had a child, according to police.<\/p>\n

Mateo Gonzalez was murdered in the attack. FOX40<\/p>\n

\u201cGavin Newsom has the blood of these women and this innocent little baby on his hands. Xavier Becerra is no better and Tom Steyer is even worse,\u201d candidate for governor Steve Hilton told The Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese Democrats lecture us about \u201ctheir values\u201d and how \u201ccompassionate\u201d they are while their sick sanctuary extremism sets monsters like this free to murder and terrorize our communities,\u201d Hilton said, \u201cEnough is enough: this insanity must end, and it will on Day One when I am governor,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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Newsom has long championed the state\u2019s sanctuary laws, though he has opposed legislation that would further expand them.<\/p>\n

Modesto Police Department officers discovered evidence of Escoto\u2019s alleged crime Thursday morning around 9:20 a.m. after they responded to a home near Monterey and Thrasher avenues following a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance.<\/p>\n

When officers arrived at the home, they discovered 23-year-old Fabiola Gonzalez with multiple stab wounds who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.<\/p>\n

Officers continued to search the home and found a second woman, 54-year-old Silvia Nu\u00f1ez, and Mateo Gonzalez, an infant, both with stab wounds.<\/p>\n

Escoto was taken into custody without incident.<\/p>\n

Officers set up a perimeter around the neighborhood while looking for Escoto. FOX40<\/p>\n

Nu\u00f1ez was pronounced dead at the scene, while the infant died at the hospital, according to police.<\/p>\n

An additional child, approximately 4 years old, was found inside the home and taken to the hospital for treatment, police said.<\/p>\n

After information gathered at the scene led investigators to believe that the killer remained in the area, officers established a perimeter around the house where the victims were found, and called in a SWAT and hostage negotiators. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Escoto was deported three times.<\/p>\n

Escoto was later found hiding inside a nearby house, and video posted on the Stockton Chronicle TikTok page<\/a> showed him being taken into custody without incident.<\/p>\n

As a precaution, nearby Orville Wright Elementary School was placed on lockdown, and students and staff were relocated to La Loma Junior High School. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Investigators believe Escoto shared a child with one of the victims. Police would not say which of the victims was believed to have had a child with Escoto. They also would not say if either of the children found in the house were believed to be his.<\/p>\n

Based on a preliminary investigation, detectives believe the killings took place in an isolated incident. Police did not identify a motive for the murders or provide the identities of the victims.<\/p>\n

Based on a preliminary investigation, detectives believe the killings took place in an isolated incident. Police did not identify a motive for the murders or provide the identities of the victims. Midesto Bee<\/p>\n

Road closures remained in place on Friday as police continued their investigation of the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will do everything that we can to investigate it and bring closure to the families,\u201d said Modesto Police Department Lt. Eric Schuller.<\/p>\n

Escoto is set to appear in court on Monday, when he will be officially charged for the three killings.<\/p>\n

It also bars police from asking about immigration status, detaining individuals solely for ICE or sharing information with immigration authorities, with some exceptions for certain criminal convictions. stocktonchronicle<\/p>\n

Representatives for the San Joaquin Sheriff and ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Escoto\u2019s previous DUI arrest and immigration actions he allegedly faced.<\/p>\n

California\u2019s controversial sanctuary law, passed in 2017, prohibits state and local law enforcement from using resources for federal immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n

It also bars police from asking about immigration status, detaining individuals solely for ICE or sharing information with immigration authorities, with some exceptions for certain criminal convictions.<\/p>\n

Cities including Los Angeles have their own versions of the law.<\/p>\n

Former US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said sanctuary laws like those of California \u201cimpede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Justice Department in June filed a suit against Los Angeles over its sanctuary city polices.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a tragedy,\u201d said Schuller of Thursday\u2019s killings. \u201cWords cannot express how terrible this incident is.\u201d<\/p>\n

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