A San Antonio family seeks justice after police say a pregnant woman, her boyfriend, and their unborn child were killed in a drug deal.

SAN ANTONIO — It was a devastating crime that gripped San Antonio during the 2023 holiday season: A pregnant woman days away from giving birth, her boyfriend and their unborn child were killed in what police describe as a drug deal. 

Now their families are looking to the courts for justice in the deaths of Savanah Soto, 18, Matthew Guerra, 22, and their child, a baby boy they named Fabian. 

Soto was in final days of her pregnancy. A CLEAR Alert was issued on Christmas Day 2023 after she did not show up for her scheduled induction. Their bodies were found with bullet wounds on Dec. 26, 2023, in a car found at a northwest-side apartment complex. 

Nine days later, Christopher Preciado and his father, Ramon Preciado were booked into the Bexar County jail for the grisly crime. Police say it was all over a marijuana deal.

Livestreaming is not allowed by the court in this trial but KENS 5 will be providing daily live updates each day. See Day 1 live updates below:



Live updates:

10:40 a.m. Defense attorney Joseph A. Esparza begins opening remarks. He says there is no blood or DNA evidence to implicate Christopher. He also said there is no fingerprint evidence or gunshot resident evidence. He added his client gave a statement to police but did not confess to a crime. 

10:35 a.m.: Alban said there was nothing that justified taking out a gun and taking out an entire family in less than 30 seconds. 

10:30 a.m. Surveillance video  and other leads led investigators to Christopher Preciado’s front door. Alban said Christopher and Matthew knew each other and they were meeting for a marijuana transaction. Within moments, Alban says Christopher shot them in the side and back of the head. 

10:25 a.m. Their family arrived at the hospital for the birth of the baby on the day Savanah was set to be induced, but they never showed up. A three-day search ensued, ending on Dec. 26 2023 when their bodies were found in Matthew’s car with bullet wounds. The car was covered in a scrap pile. Paramedics broke into the car and confirmed they had been dead for a whlie. 

10:23 a.m. Prosecutor Melissa Alban begins opening statements by saying Savanah and Mtthew were not perfect, but were excited to welcome their baby. She said they may have made choices we do not understand but the “penalty should not be death.” She said the couple and their unborn baby were executed by Christopher Preciado. 

10:21 a.m. Jury arrives in courtroom. A prosecutor read the indictment 

10:20 a.m. In the packed courtroom, bailffs reminded the gallery to follow the rules including no phones, no distractions, and no outbursts. They say anyone who violates the rules will be asked to leave the courtroom. 

10:15 a.m. Both sides are at the bench conferring with Judge Jennifer Pena on procedural matters. The jury has not been brought into the courtroom yet.

10 a.m. Trial for Christopher Preciado begins in the 290th District Court with Judge Jennifer Pena presiding.

9:45 a.m. Two defense attorneys are representing Preciado, Monica Guerrero and Joseph A. Esparza. The prosecuting attorneys include Melissa Alban, First-Chair Prosecutor, and Ross Lewis, Second-Chair Prosecutor

9 a.m. Friends and family as well as laywers for both sides begin arriving in the courtroom.Â