SAN ANTONIO — The murder of a San Antonio couple has garnered worldwide attention, with tens of thousands of people following developments online.
Savanah Soto, 18, was set to give birth to her first child when she went missing. Soto's body was found alongside her boyfriend, 22-year-old Matthew Guerra, the day after Christmas.
According to police, they were both shot to death.
More than two dozen Facebook groups were created to help catch their killer. Countless people have also posted videos on TikTok and YouTube, disseminating their own observations, theories and angles on what might have happened.
‘Pervasive sense of isolation’
David Schmid is a social media expert.
“We have seen a growth of communities organized around crime,” said Schmid, also an English professor at the University at Buffalo. “There’s been a significant increase in what’s called ‘internet sleuthing.’ I think the motivation for that comes from several things.
"First, I think people have a natural human curiosity about stories like this. Most people who get involved in these online communities have the best intentions; they want to help. I think what people are also looking for is a sense of connection with other people, a sense of belonging to a group that has a common purpose. The rise of these groups also tells us something about this pervasive sense of isolation.”
The “Savanah Soto Live Case Updates” group has climbed to more than 24,000 members.
Dr. Max Wachtel is a forensic psychologist who graduated from Trinity University. He says self-assigned digital detectives can either help or hinder an investigation.
Social media a 'double-edged sword'
“It’s a bit of a double-edged sword,” said Dr. Wachtel. “Police love getting tips from the public, they get a lot of leads that way. But in most cases, we end up getting in the way of investigators.”
In the case of the Soto and Guerra killings, there are examples of both.
When police released surveillance video of the suspects, for instance, people zeroed in on what they believed was a third person inside the truck seen in the footage. On Friday, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus confirmed investigators are looking into the possibility of a third person involved in the capital murder case.
Before police made the double arrest, though, many shared names and photos of people online, accusing them of killing Soto and Guerra. Investigators later said they had been ruled out as suspects early on.
“The internet has blown up with people sending tips,” said SAPD Sgt. Washington Moscoso. “There was a lot of misinformation out there.”
“There have been cases in the past where people have been incorrectly identified as suspects and have had their lives ruined,” said Schmid. “No matter how well-intentioned people are, it’s a phenomenon that definitely has disadvantages.”
Information void can lead to conspiracies
Law enforcement will often withhold information to protect an investigation. However, research from Brown University shows an information void can lead to conspiracies.
“It’s human nature to fill in the gaps when we have a lack of information,” said Dr. Wachtel. “That tends to lead to a lot of misidentifications, and it puts those people in real danger. It’s very easy to find people’s addresses and phone numbers on the internet. All the sudden, people become the targets of an entire community."
Not all cases receive the same response. Wachtel says crimes involving women and children tend to attract more attention. Also, when people can relate to or empathize with the victim, they are more likely to become invested.
'More about the anxiety over violent crimes than the crimes themselves'
“The other thing that is going on here is that these groups tell us more about the anxiety that people feel about violent crimes than the crimes themselves,” said Schmid. “I don’t think many people realize that the number of violent crimes being committed in the U.S. has been steadily declining for a number of years, but the level of public anxiety about becoming a victim of crime has remained remarkably persistent.”
Christopher Preciado, 19, is facing several charges including capital murder. Meanwhile, his father, Ramon Preciado, 53, is accused of helping conceal the bodies.
Solving the case hasn’t put an end to the comments. In fact, it’s had the opposite effect.
People are now digging into the suspects’ backgrounds. The entire arrest affidavit, including the suspects’ home address, was posted online.
People also continue to share their opinions about the victims’ decisions.
“With all these false accusations, everyone is trying to play detective,” Soto’s aunt, Valerie Mendoza, previously told KENS 5. “I’ve already removed myself from a lot of social media because of it.”