An illegal migrant accused of wiping out three generations of a family may have been living with the victims and fathered a child with one of them, cops have suggested.
The Modesto Police Department said it believes 28-year-old Joaquin Escoto resided in the home where two women and a two-week-old baby were stabbed to death last week.
Detectives also said he appeared to be in a relationship with one of the victims, though the exact nature of it remains under investigation.
The revelation comes as authorities identified the victims as 54-year-old Maria Silvia Nuñez-Villalobos, her 23-year-old daughter Fabiola Gonzalez-Nuñez, and Gonzalez-Nuñez’s two-week-old son, Mateo.
Escoto remains jailed on three counts of murder, along with special-circumstance allegations, use of a deadly weapon enhancements and an outstanding warrant tied to a prior DUI case.
Police responded to the home near Monterey and Thrasher avenues on the morning of May 28 after receiving reports of a disturbance near Orville Wright Elementary School.
When officers arrived, they found Gonzalez-Nuñez suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
During a subsequent search of the residence, officers discovered Nuñez-Villalobos and infant Mateo. The grandmother was declared dead at the home, while the newborn was rushed to a hospital, where he died.
Cops also found a young child alive inside the residence. Police said the child is the son of Escoto and Gonzalez-Nuñez. Child Protective Services has since taken custody of the youngster.
After the killings, law enforcement established a perimeter around the neighborhood and launched a search that forced a nearby elementary school into lockdown.
Escoto was later found hiding inside a neighboring residence and was arrested without incident. The family has since spoken publicly about the devastating loss.
“Our family is experiencing a heartbreaking loss that words cannot adequately express,” relative Marisa Jimenez wrote in a GoFundMe campaign established to help cover funeral expenses and support services.
“The devastating circumstances surrounding this tragedy have left our family shattered.”
Relatives described Nuñez-Villalobos as “a loving grandmother whose kindness and strength touched everyone around her.”
Gonzalez-Nuñez was remembered as “a devoted mother, daughter, and loved one who brought joy and love to those fortunate enough to know her,” while baby Mateo was described as “an innocent child whose life was taken far too soon.”
The case has attracted additional scrutiny after reports revealed Escoto, a Mexican national from Jalisco, had previously been deported from the United States three times.
“In a single moment, generations of love, memories, and dreams for the future were taken from us,” the fundraiser states.
By the weekend, the campaign had raised more than $26,000 toward a $30,000 goal to help family members pay for funeral costs, counseling and other expenses as they cope with the tragedy.
The investigation remains ongoing.
