Two Found Dead in Car as Police Untangle 'Perplexing' Discovery

Authorities in Texas indicated that they believe they found the body of missing pregnant teen Savanah Soto, 18, who sparked a CLEAR alert after she failed to show up at the hospital for her scheduled induced labor last week.

San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) Chief William McManus held a press conference Tuesday announcing that two people had been found dead in a car, adding that the crime scene was "complex" and "perplexing."

McManus said the bodies were found in a Kia, described previously as belonging to Soto's boyfriend Matthew Guerra, 22, at an apartment complex on the city's northwest side. The chief did not confirm their identities but said he believes they're Soto and Guerra. He did not comment on whether Soto's unborn baby survived.

The chief added that SAPD is investigating the case as a homicide.

McManus said it wasn't clear how the pair died but said that their bodies had been in the car for roughly three or four days before they were discovered.

"It's a very, very perplexing crime scene," he said. "Detectives are looking at this as a possible murder, but we're not sure. We can't say for sure what we have."

Newsweek reached out via email and Facebook on Tuesday to SAPD and Soto's family for comment.

Gloria Cardova, who identified herself as Soto's mother on social media, posted to Facebook on December 23, pleading for the public's help in finding her daughter, saying that Soto was scheduled to be induced into labor at 6:30 p.m. that evening but did not show up to the hospital. She said that she is "worried about her safety."

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued a CLEAR Alert for Soto on Christmas Day after the teen, who was nine months pregnant, was reported to have last been seen around 2 p.m. December 22 in the 6000 block of Grissom Road in Leon Valley, Texas, with Guerra.

CLEAR alerts are issued when one is in "imminent danger or disappearance was involuntary." DPS said Soto was driving a 2013 gray Kia Optima at the time of her disappearance.

"The Leon Valley Police Department has been notified of the disappearance of Savannah Nicole Soto, who was reported missing by her family," the alert read. "Ms. Soto, who is pregnant and has passed her delivery date, has caused significant concern among her family members after missing an essential medical appointment."

SAPD had been searching for a 2013 Kia Optima, which McManus confirmed is where the two bodies were found on Tuesday night. The chief said the family was alerted that the car was spotted at the apartment complex and called police.

Correction 12/27/23 8:34 a.m. ET: The name of the pregnant teen has been updated.