In San Diego, California, the mystifying case of a couple’s disappearance just days before Christmas has now been solved.
Johnny Soto, 52, and his wife, Melissa Soto, 45, were last seen on the night of December 20, 2023. Their sudden, unexplained absence led their worried children to report them as missing.
On December 26, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) announced that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol had found a car in the parking lot of the Golden Acorn Casino in Campo. The bodies of Johnny and Melissa Soto were located inside the vehicle, as confirmed by the family members.
Johnny’s death was ruled as suicide due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, while Melissa’s death, caused by strangulation, is being investigated as a homicide. Johnny is the only suspect in her killing.
The Sotos, who had been married for two decades but had been living apart since July, left behind three adult children.
Their youngest child, Vincent, shared that his parents seemed typical on the evening of their disappearance. His father was watching television, and his mother had just arrived in her car. After requesting privacy for a private discussion, Vincent received a text from his father stating they had left the house.
This message was the last contact from the parents. Disturbed by their extended absence, the children alerted the police and reached out to their aunt, Christina Sandoval.
According to Sandoval, the Sotos left without any personal items, including clothing, phones, and wallets.
A neighbor’s surveillance camera captured the couple’s final moments at their home, showing Melissa’s car arriving and Johnny moving to and from the car around 10:30 p.m. before they drove off.
Family members noted that the couple maintained an amicable relationship despite their separation.
The sudden loss has left the family in a state of shock and mourning. Christmas gifts lay unopened under the tree, too emotionally charged for the siblings to unwrap.
The case remains under investigation by the SDPD, who are urging anyone with additional information to get in touch with their homicide unit.
