A young woman found her mother and brother’s beaten dead bodies in their family home after growing concerned when she suddenly couldn’t reach them.
Alicia Montejano, 43, and Reuel Huerta, 19, were found unresponsive by Marisa Vigil who called police on Monday night, KCRA reported.
Officers arrived at their home in Stockton, California, around 11pm and pronounced them both dead at the scene.
‘I found them,’ Vigil told ABC10. ‘I couldn’t believe it. It felt like I was dying at the time. I couldn’t breathe, and I still couldn’t get the pictures out of my head.’
Reuel’s father, Raul Huerta, said there would be ‘no Christmas this year’ for his family.
‘[Reuel] wouldn’t want clothes, he wouldn’t want nothing like that… he was so smart, so smart, he made money on the computer… That was his passion,’ he said.
The afternoon after the killings, the Stockton Police Department named Julio Ceasar Valdez, 38, as their suspect.
A family member told KCRA that Valdez was Montejano’s boyfriend. As there was no forced entry into the home, police classified the murders as a likely instance of domestic violence.
Alicia Montejano, 43, and her 19-year-old son Reuel Huerta were found dead inside their home in Stockton, California
Pictured: The entrance to the victims’ home
Officers consider Valdez dangerous and said he was last seen in a gray four-door sedan.
Police spokesperson David Scott didn’t say how the mother died or if they’d found a murder weapon but did say the son died from cuts to his body.
‘The male had a laceration, which, appears to be the that cause of death there, pending any other further autopsy. As far as the female, there was no gunshot, wounds or anything like that,’ Scott said.
Autopsies will be conducted in the coming days that will shed more light on what caused their deaths.
During a gathering to honor the victims on Christmas Eve, Vigil said her mother was a loving and accepting person. She described her brother as a quiet and sweet teen whose life was taken too soon.
‘She’ll always keep a smile on your face and always make you laugh no matter what. I was her best friend,’ Vigil said through tears.
‘I just want you to keep them remembered, don’t forget about them, please.’
‘They both did not deserve this,’ Raul Huerta said. ‘We need justice. He had the biggest heart. He would not hurt nobody.’
Police named 38-year-old Julio Ceasar Valdez as the suspect in the slayings. Valdez was Montejano’s boyfriend and police believe this was possibly an instance of domestic violence
Vigil also implored the community to come forward to the family or police if they have information on Valdez.
‘If anybody knows or sees anything, please please tell us or contact the police department because it’s ripped a big piece of our hearts out. We want this man caught,’ she said.
Tipsters could be eligible for cash rewards in exchange for information that assists the apprehension of Valdez.
The public was urged to call Stockton Crime Stoppers Inc. at 209-946-0600; or submit a Tip online using the Stockton Crime Stopper’s Website; or download the P3 Tips Mobile App to submit anonymous tips.
The family also set up a GoFundMe to pay for funeral costs. The fundraiser has gotten just over $3,000 toward its $50,000 goal.
