Texas police arrest third suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of pregnant teen Savanah Soto and her boyfriend: Step-mother of suspect already in custody along with his father

A third suspect has been arrested by police in Texas in connection with the shooting deaths of pregnant teen Savanah Soto, 18, and her 22-year-old boyfriend Matthew Guerra.

Myrta Romanos, 47, was arrested Wednesday by San Antonio police.

She was seen wearing a black Ozzy Osbourne shirt as she was taken to a waiting patrol car.

Romanos has been charged with altering, destroying or concealing a corpse, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

San Antonio police say they believe she is the stepmother of co-suspect Christopher Ray Preciado.

Officers have already charged Christopher, 19, with murder and abuse of a corpse.

Romanos is walked to a waiting patrol vehicle. She was charged in connection with the murders of pregnant teen Savanah Soto and her boyfriend Matthew Guerra

A Texas father and son faced additional charges in connection with the deaths of a pregnant teen and her boyfriend. Ramon Preciado, 53, is charged with altering or destroying a human corpse, in addition to abuse of a corpse

Ramon Preciado, 53, was escorted out by San Antonio police last Wednesday

Christopher Ray Preciado, 19, has been charged with abuse of a corpse and altering or destroying a human corpse, in addition to capital murder

Christopher Preciado, center, was escorted by San Antonio police last Wednesday

His father, Ramon Preciado, 53, has also been charged with altering or destroying a human corpse and abuse of a corpse after allegedly helping his son move the bodies after the killings.

Romanos’ arrest came after tips on social media suggested a third suspect may have been involved in the killings.

Detectives were then able to find enough probable cause to arrest Romanos.

Surveillance footage shows Romanos leaving the house in a black truck with Preciado and his father. Video shows her returning to the home with the two men.

According to Guerra’s family, Soto and Guerra may have been killed in retaliation for a drug deal gone bad.

Police say they believe Romanos’ gun was used in the couple’s murder.

According to a police report, Soto’s family reported her missing on December 22 after calling her cell phone proved futile.

They searched local hospitals, knowing Soto would give birth within days, but could not find her.

A CLEAR Alert was issued on Christmas Day, reserved for missing adults believed to be in immediate danger.

Myrta Romanos was escorted by police to a patrol car on Wednesday

Romanos ignored questions from waiting reporters as she was taken to the police car

All three were arrested in connection with the shootings of Savanah Soto, 18, and 22-year-old Matthew Guerra. Soto disappeared days before she was due to be induced into labor

The bodies of Soto and Guerra were found in Guerra’s 2013 Kia Optima, both with fatal gunshot wounds to the head

The alert included a description of Guerra’s gray 2013 Kia Optima, identified by a resident of a Northwest Side apartment complex who saw it in the parking lot.

Police responded and discovered Soto dead in the front seat and Guerra dead in the backseat. Investigators believe he was dragged into the car.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner confirmed that both Soto and Guerra each died from a gunshot to the head.

The couple’s unborn baby, a boy they came to name Fabian, also died as a result of the shooting.

Guerra’s relatives admitted to investigators that their son sold drugs through social media.

“It was also advised that the friend would post money and narcotics on Instagram,” the police report said.

“It was said that people wanted to rob (Matthew) and it was said that (he) had been shot at before.”

Soto’s family raised the alarm when the pregnant teenager disappeared just days before she was due to give birth. Their attempts to reach her by phone proved futile.

Guerra’s family told investigators he sold drugs and advertised on social media. He was charged with domestic violence after punching Soto on Christmas Day 2022 and then violating parole (Photo: Guerra’s 2022 jail booking photo)

Surveillance video showed a man getting out of a pickup truck and walking to Guerra’s car, later scrubbing the outside of the driver’s side door with a towel

On December 21, surveillance video captured a Chevy Silverado pulling up next to Guerra’s Kia in the complex’s parking lot.

A heavyset man got out of the Silverado and appeared to talk to the driver of the Kia before grabbing a towel and wiping down the driver’s side door. A few minutes later the Silverado drives away.

When detectives arrived at Ramon Preciado’s home, he told them they needed to talk to his son, according to the police report. Both men were taken to the police station for questioning.

Christopher Preciado said Guerra pointed a gun at him, resulting in a struggle that led to Soto being shot. In a separate struggle, the teen claimed, Guerra was also shot in the head.

But detectives determined that Christopher’s retelling of events was “contrary to the evidence collected at the scene and from the victim’s vehicle.”

As he was placed in a patrol car, Ramon was asked by reporters if he had any regrets.

‘You don’t even know what’s going on. You’re just making things up like always,” the 54-year-old responded.

A CLEAR Alert was issued in lieu of Soto’s disappearance. She was found shot in the head

Police say Soto’s younger brother, 15-year-old Ethan, was also killed last year in revenge for a drug robbery

Police cordon off the spot where two bodies were discovered

Court documents show that Soto was beaten by Guerra on Christmas Day in 2022 and charges were filed against him.

This resulted in a protective order banning Guerra from “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly” communicating with the teen, including “personally in a harmful or offensive manner.”

Guerra violated parole for the domestic violence charge and was back in court months later, charged with three new crimes: evading arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless driving.

Soto’s death is the latest tragedy to hit her family, as they also lost her brother, 15-year-old Ethan, in the past year.

According to San Antonio police, the teen was shot on May 16 in revenge for a drug robbery.

Victor Rivas, 18, is accused of killing Soto after the younger boy stole THC-related drugs. Rivas allegedly used an underage girl to lure the boy outside before opening fire.

Emotions boiled over at a subsequent hearing, where four members of the Soto family jumped a partition as Rivas took the stand.

They were arrested and charged with assault and disruption of judicial proceedings.