The identities of a man and woman found dead Dec. 27 in a vehicle parked at Golden Acorn Casino in Campo were released Thursday by the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).
Johnny Soto, 52, and Melissa Soto, 45, both of San Ysidro, were identified as a married couple living separately, according to SDPD Lt. Steve Shebloski.
Detectives learned there was likely a domestic violence incident before they were reported missing by family members last week, Mr. Shebloski said. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol contacted the SDPD after locating a vehicle associated with the two missing persons.
“When the male and female were found by officers, the male was deceased from what is believed to be a self-inflicted single gunshot wound to the head,” Mr. Shebloski said. “The preliminary investigation indicates that his death was a suicide. It has been determined the female died from strangulation. Her death has been confirmed to be a homicide with her husband as the lone suspect in what appears to be a tragic case of domestic violence.”
That vehicle was located in the Golden Acorn Casino parking lot at 1800 Golden Acorn Way in Campo, according to the lieutenant.
Detectives from the SDPD Southern Division and the Homicide Unit responded to that location and have been investigating the case since the man and woman were reported missing.
The initial investigation indicated the two were missing under suspicious circumstances and the exact nature of what occurred and why they were missing was under investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the case was asked to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-80-8477.
