Ramon Preciado is scheduled to return to court Tuesday for the first time since his son was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year.
In 2023, Christopher Preciado fatally shot Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra and their unborn child. Ramon Preciado is accused of helping his son cover up the murders.
KSAT plans to livestream Preciado’s court appearance at approximately 9 a.m. in this article. Delays are possible. If there is not a livestream available, please check back at a later time.
Court records show Judge Jennifer Pena, who presides over Bexar County’s 290th Criminal District Court, voluntarily recused herself from the case in August.
Preciado’s case is now being presided by Judge Joel Perez in Bexar County’s 437th Criminal District Court.
Tuesday’s hearing could provide a clearer picture of how the case will move forward and whether a future trial date will be discussed.
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.
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.
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.
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