BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – The heightened emotions of the Christopher Preciado capital murder trial continued before court proceedings restarted on Thursday morning.
Christopher Preciado took his seat inside a Bexar County courtroom for the third day of his capital murder trial on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (KSAT)
Moments before the jury was seated inside Bexar County’s 290th Criminal District courtroom, a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputy took a seat next to Christopher’s parents — Myrta Romanos and Ramon Preciado.
A KSAT camera captured the deputy looking at two males the deputy believed were staring at Romanos and Ramon Preciado. The deputy determined the males’ glares were enough to kick them out of the courtroom.
A KSAT camera captured the deputy (right) looking at two males the deputy believed were staring at Myrta Romanos (left) and Ramon Preciado (center) on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The deputy determined the males’ glares were enough to kick them out of the courtroom. (KSAT)
“Come on out. Let’s go,” the deputy said to the males. “Outside.”
The males, one who wore blue and the other who wore red, were escorted by other deputies from the courtroom.
Ramon Preciado (wearing white) watches a male (wearing blue) be escorted out of a Bexar County courtroom during Preciado’s son’s capital murder trial on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (KSAT)A male, who was seen wearing red, was escorted out of a Bexar County courtroom during Christopher Preciado’s capital murder trial on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (KSAT)
“Anyone else have a problem, you will be stepping out of this courtroom and out of the courthouse,” the deputy said to the court after jurors were seated.
Watch the moment play out in court in the below video player.
Security inside the courtroom has been heightened throughout the trial with more than 10 deputies present at times — a significant increase from the typical two to three deputies assigned to one courtroom.
Court officials cited prior issues involving some family members, along with strict courtroom rules, as reasons for the added security.
The judge also granted a request to allow Ramon Preciado into the courtroom during the trial. Ramon Preciado is facing charges for allegedly trying to help his son cover up the murders.
In body-worn camera video dated Jan. 3, 2024, the court was also shown the first interaction SAPD detectives had with Christopher Preciado and his father, Ramon.
On the stand Thursday, now-retired SAPD detective Lawrence Saiz answered questions from Bexar County co-prosecutor Melissa Alban.
Watch the Preciados’ January 2024 interaction with SAPD detectives in the below video player.
Christopher Preciado is accused of causing the deaths of Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra and their unborn son. Prosecutors said on Wednesday took place inside a vehicle where investigators later found extensive blood evidence.
If found guilty, Christopher Preciado faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Background
Soto, who was expected to be induced to deliver her son, never showed up for her appointment on Dec. 22, 2023.
Soto and her boyfriend, Guerra, were last heard from on Dec. 21, 2023, according to family and police statements.
Soto’s family soon reported her as a missing person. Authorities issued a statewide CLEAR Alert on Christmas Day.
One day later, on Dec. 26, 2023, police said Soto and Guerra were found dead in Guerra’s vehicle at a Leon Valley apartment complex.
Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra (KSAT 12 News)
On Jan. 3, 2024, Christopher Preciado, who was 19 at the time, was arrested and charged with capital murder. His father, Ramon Preciado, was arrested on charges of tampering with evidence and abuse of a human corpse, according to arrest records and police statements.
Authorities later arrested Myrta Romanos, Christopher Preciado’s mother, on allegations that she tried to help cover up the crime.
Christopher Preciado, Myrta Romanos and Ramon Preciado (KSAT)
Soto and Guerra’s families said they did not know Christopher and Ramon Preciado. Police said the dispute that led to the killings began with a drug deal.
According to an arrest affidavit, Christopher Preciado told police that Guerra pulled a gun on him and that he was able to “manipulate it.” Soto and Guerra were shot during that sequence.
In February 2025, Ramon Preciado was released from the Bexar County Adult Detention Center after his bond was reduced.
Romanos was expected to go to trial in November 2025. However, after the state sought a reset that the court denied, prosecutors dismissed all charges against Romanos.
The case against Christopher Preciado moved forward and was finally set for trial.
The trial is expected to last more than a week. The witness list includes law enforcement officers from multiple agencies, an expert witness and family members from the Guerra and Soto families.
The witness list also includes Ramon Preciado and Romanos, but it is not yet known whether they will be called on to testify.
The judge is not allowing the trial to be livestreamed, but KSAT 12 News will provide continuous updates on the case from inside the courtroom.
More coverage of this story on KSAT:
Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.