California Parents Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide After Disappearance

The couple, who were living separately, disappeared on December 20 and were found days later near the border, sparking a homicide investigation by the San Diego Police Department.

Melissa and Johnny Soto, parents of three from San Diego, California, were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide near the border, days after they were reported missing by their children.
The couple, who had been married for 20 years but were living separately, disappeared on December 20, 2023, after asking their youngest son, Vincent, to leave the house so they could talk.
Authorities found the couple's vehicle in the parking lot of the Gold Acorn Casino, roughly 27 miles from the border, with the bodies inside. The man had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and the woman's death is being investigated as a homicide.
Family members and neighbors reported that the couple left with no personal belongings, and Johnny's phone was turned off shortly after they left their home.
The San Diego Police Department is still investigating the incident and has asked anyone with information to contact their homicide unit.