Ramon Preciado Faces Evidence Tampering Charges
A San Antonio judge held a status hearing for the man accused of helping conceal the bodies of a couple and their unborn son.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Crime — General
Judge Joel Perez held a status hearing for Ramon Preciado, who is charged with tampering with evidence and abuse of a human corpse. Prosecutors accuse him of helping move the bodies of Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra, and their unborn son Fabian, who were killed in December 2023.
Why it matters
The hearing moves the case toward trial for the second defendant tied to the killings, after his co-defendant was convicted of capital murder earlier this year. It also highlights how the alleged concealment of the bodies is being prosecuted separately from the homicides.
Ramon Preciado is charged with tampering with evidence and abuse of a human corpse, and no trial date was set at the November 2 status hearing. Defense attorneys have finished reviewing a lengthy transcript from a co-defendant's trial, but the court has not yet scheduled a jury trial.
The players
Ramon Preciado
The father charged with tampering with evidence and abuse of a human corpse for allegedly helping conceal the victims' bodies.
Christopher Preciado
The son convicted of capital murder in the deaths of Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra, and their unborn son, and sentenced to life without parole.
Joel Perez
The judge presiding over the 437th Criminal District Court who held the status hearing and wants a trial scheduled as soon as possible.
The details
Prosecutors allege Ramon Preciado helped move the couple's bodies to conceal evidence after the victims were shot during an apparent drug deal involving his son, Christopher Preciado. Guerra's bodies were found inside his car, which had been abandoned in an apartment complex parking lot, and surveillance video showing a large bag being loaded into a vehicle at the Preciado home helped investigators identify the father and son.
Timeline
December 2023: Couple and unborn son killed during an apparent drug deal.
January 2024: Father and son arrested after surveillance video identification.
March 2026: Christopher Preciado convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole.
November 2, 2026: Status hearing held for Ramon Preciado.
Early 2027: Jury trial anticipated for Ramon Preciado if it slips past the holidays.
Legal Context
The charges against Ramon Preciado fall under Texas Penal Code offenses for tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse, which prosecutors can bring separately from the underlying homicide charges. The case shows how Texas prosecutors pursue accessory-style concealment charges alongside capital murder convictions against family members involved in the same incident.
Residents in San Antonio are following a case that shows how investigators used surveillance video to identify suspects after bodies were found in an abandoned vehicle. The pending trial could affect how the county handles similar cases involving concealment of remains connected to violent crimes.
The takeaway
The case illustrates how evidence-tampering charges can follow a homicide conviction, so the full scope of a crime can extend beyond the killing itself. Readers following court cases can track scheduling orders to see when a trial date is set.
What happens next
A jury trial for Ramon Preciado is anticipated in early 2027 if the case slips past the holidays, pending the court's scheduling order.
Further reading
For more on related local cases, see Crime — General coverage across San Antonio.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The National Desk.
