Thrice-Deported Illegal Accused in Triple Murder Case
A Mexican national deported three times allegedly killed three people in California after sanctuary laws prevented ICE from detaining him following a DUI arrest last year.
Joaquin Escoto, 28, originally from Jalisco, Mexico, was arrested in June on driving under the influence charges in San Joaquin County, where he resided in Modesto. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials requested notification of his release from jail so they could proceed with deportation proceedings, a senior law enforcement official disclosed to New York Post.
San Joaquin County law enforcement never informed ICE of Escoto’s release, bound by California’s sanctuary state legislation that restricts cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The official confirmed that California law effectively prohibited the jail from complying with the ICE detainer request, providing police documents to substantiate the account.
Less than a year after walking free, Escoto now faces three murder charges without possibility of bail in connection with a brutal knife attack that claimed three lives in Modesto.
Triple Homicide Discovered After Domestic Disturbance Call
Modesto Police Department officers responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance near Monterey and Thrasher avenues on Thursday morning around 9:20 a.m. Upon arrival, they found Fabiola Gonzalez, 23, with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A search of the residence uncovered two additional victims. Silvia Nuñez, 54, was found with stab wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. An infant identified as Mateo Gonzalez was also discovered with stab wounds and later died at the hospital.
A four-year-old child was found inside the home and transported to a hospital for treatment. Police have not disclosed the relationship of either child to the suspect.
Suspect Captured After SWAT Operation
Evidence collected at the crime scene indicated the perpetrator remained in the vicinity. Officers established a perimeter and deployed SWAT teams along with hostage negotiators. Escoto was eventually located hiding in a nearby residence and taken into custody without resistance, according to video footage posted by the Stockton Chronicle.
Orville Wright Elementary School was placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure, with students and staff relocated to La Loma Junior High School during the operation.
Investigators believe Escoto fathered a child with one of the victims, though police declined to specify which victim or confirm whether either child found at the scene was his. Authorities characterized the killings as an isolated incident but have not identified a motive.
California Sanctuary Law Under Scrutiny
California’s sanctuary state law, enacted in 2017, prohibits state and local law enforcement from dedicating resources to federal immigration enforcement. The legislation prevents police from inquiring about immigration status, detaining individuals solely for ICE purposes, or sharing information with immigration authorities, except in cases involving certain criminal convictions.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has condemned such policies, stating that sanctuary laws impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design. The Justice Department filed suit against Los Angeles in June over its sanctuary city policies.
Escoto had previously been arrested for DUI and deported three times before his June arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court Monday for formal charging in the three murders. Representatives from the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office and ICE have not responded to requests for comment.
Modesto Police Department Lt. Eric Schuller pledged a thorough investigation to bring closure to the victims’ families. Road closures remained in effect Friday as the investigation continued.
With information from New York Post
