The family of murdered pregnant teen Savanah Soto, her boyfriend Matthew Guerra, and their unborn child says the justice system has betrayed them—again. Nearly two years after the 2023 killings stunned San Antonio, a development no one expected hit the courtroom this week: a major suspect walked free before the jury was even selected.

While the alleged gunman, Christopher Preciado, awaits a February 2026 capital murder trial, his stepmother—accused of helping him dispose of the bodies—had all charges suddenly dismissed, sending shockwaves through both grieving families.

And the reason prosecutors gave?
They still hadn’t finished DNA testing after almost two years.

Below is the full breakdown—what happened, who’s responsible, what’s rumor, what’s fact, and why the families fear justice may slip away.

TIMELINE OF THE CRIME & CASE

December 2023 – The Murders

• Pregnant teen Savanah Soto, her boyfriend Matthew Guerra, and their unborn child are shot and killed.
• Their bodies are later found in a Leon Valley apartment complex.
• Investigators quickly zero in on Christopher Preciado as the prime suspect.

January 2024 – The Arrests Begin

• San Antonio police identify Christopher Preciado and his father Ramon Preciado as “sole suspects.”
• Soon after, stepmother Myrta Romanos is arrested, accused of helping move the bodies.

Charges against Romanos originally included:

• Tampering with a human corpse
• Abuse of a corpse
• Tampering with physical evidence

2024 – 2025: Endless Trial Delays

• Prosecutors repeatedly request continuances.
• Defense attorneys say they’re ready to proceed.
• A .380 Davis Industries handgun—ballistically matched to the murders—is sent for DNA and fingerprint testing.
• Tests drag on for nearly two years with no results.

November 2025 – The Breaking Point

• As jury selection begins, prosecutors again ask for a delay.
• The judge denies it, pushing for the long-overdue trial to begin.
• Prosecutors abruptly file a motion to dismiss all charges against Romanos.

November 2025 – Charges Dropped

• Romanos walks out of court a free woman.
• However… court filings hint she could face new charges later, depending on what the DNA results reveal.

February 2, 2026 – The Big Trial

• The capital murder trial for Christopher Preciado is scheduled to begin.
• Romanos and the father are now listed as potential witnesses.

THE EVIDENCE — WHAT’S REAL AND WHAT’S STILL UNKNOWN

Confirmed Evidence

✔ Ballistic Match
A .380 Davis Industries handgun was matched to the bullets used to murder Soto and Guerra.

✔ Body Movement Allegations
Investigators say Romanos helped move the bodies to the Leon Valley complex.

✔ Timeline Consistency
Phone pings, surveillance, and witness accounts place the suspects in proximity to the crime window.

✔ Multiple Arrests
Christopher, Ramon, and Romanos were all taken into custody within weeks of the murders.

RUMOR VS. FACT

Rumor:

“Romanos was cleared because she had nothing to do with the murders.”

Fact:
Charges were dismissed solely because DNA testing wasn’t completed. Prosecutors maintain she played a role in moving the bodies.

Rumor:

“The DA secretly cut a deal.”

Fact:
No evidence of a plea deal exists. The dismissal happened because prosecutors asked for more time, and the judge refused.

Rumor:

“The DNA results must be bad for the prosecution.”

Fact:
The testing is simply incomplete, not negative. The lab is still processing prints and DNA from the handgun 22 months after its discovery.

THE HUMAN IMPACT — ANGRY, BETRAYED, AND TERRIFIED

For the families, the pain is unending.

Savanah’s grandmother, Rachel Soto, didn’t hold back:

“I don’t know what’s wrong with the district attorney’s office or what they are doing. I am not happy at all. None of us are happy at all.”

The family learned about the dismissal on social media—not from the DA, not from the court.

Their biggest fear?
That what happened to Romanos could happen next in the capital murder trial.

“Are they gonna give us another slap in the face? Are they going to let him go out, or are they gonna give him less time? We don’t know.”

Meanwhile, the Guerra family is equally devastated. Two years after their son was murdered, they’re still waiting for justice that seems to move slower than the crime lab machines processing key evidence.

Both families will have to wait another three months to see if February finally delivers answers—or another legal disaster.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

This case has infuriated families, divided the community, and left the public wondering whether justice is truly on the horizon—or slowly slipping away.

Do YOU believe the dismissal was justified, or did the system fail the Soto and Guerra families?
Share your thoughts in the comments. RealCrimeNetwork readers always bring sharp insight—and we want to hear from you.

---

Affiliate Disclosure:
Some links in my articles may bring me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of my work here!