A man deported three times was freed by local police. Now, a mother, grandmother, and baby are dead.
Federal immigration officers tried to deport Joaquin Escoto after a drunk driving arrest, but California sanctuary laws forced local jails to let him go.
Three lives were cut short in a quiet home because of a system designed to protect people but ended up letting a dangerous man walk free. This tragedy has left a California family broken and a community searching for answers.
WHAT HAPPENED
Police in Modesto, California, rushed to a home on Monterey Avenue after a domestic disturbance call. Inside, they found a scene of horror. Fabiola Gonzalez, 23, and Silvia Nuñez, 54, had been stabbed to death.
An infant boy named Mateo Gonzalez also suffered stab wounds and died later at a hospital. A four-year-old child was found safe inside the house. Police later found the suspect, 28-year-old Joaquin Escoto, hiding in a nearby home.
Federal records show that Escoto is a Mexican national who has been deported from the United States three times. Just weeks before the killings, local police arrested Escoto for drunk driving. Federal immigration agents asked to take him into custody, but California laws prevented local officers from handing him over.
What the evidence shows
- Joaquin Escoto was deported from the United States 3 times before the attack.
- He has 2 past arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol.
- 3 people lost their lives in the attack: a 23-year-old woman, a 54-year-old woman, and an infant.
- 1 child, aged 4, survived the attack inside the home.
- California's 2017 sanctuary law stops local jails from sharing release dates with immigration officers.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
This terrible crime forces us to look at the rules we make to keep people safe. Sanctuary laws were created to help immigrants trust local police without fearing deportation. But when those laws protect people with a history of crimes like drunk driving, we have to ask who is really being kept safe.
How do we balance compassion for peaceful neighbors with the safety of our communities? It is a hard question that lawmakers must face when a system fails this badly.
THE OTHER SIDE
Supporters of California's sanctuary law say it is vital for public safety. They believe that if undocumented people fear the police, they will not report crimes or help with investigations. They also point out that the law does allow local jails to work with federal agents for people convicted of serious or violent felonies, but drunk driving does not always meet that high bar.
Based on the current rules, local officials had no legal way to hold Escoto for immigration agents, even though they knew his history.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
Escoto is currently held without bail on three counts of murder. He will make his first appearance in court on Monday.
This tragedy will likely restart a fierce debate about California's immigration laws. Many local families are left mourning, and neighbors are calling for changes to make sure this never happens again.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
What was the motive behind this violent attack?
- Did Escoto have a relationship with the other child who survived the attack?
- Will state lawmakers change the law to allow jails to report repeat drunk drivers to federal agents?