SAN ANTONIO – Families connected to high-profile Bexar County cases are voicing their frustrations with the district attorney’s office, saying they’ve been left in the dark about major decisions and are demanding accountability from DA Joe Gonzales.
Last week, charges were dismissed against Myrta Romanos, a co-defendant in the capital murder case involving Savanah Soto, Matthew Guerra and their unborn child.
Romanos’ son, Christopher Preciado, is charged with fatally shooting the couple in December 2023. Romanos and her husband, Ramon Preciado, were charged with helping cover up the crime.
While both Preciado men are still charged, Romanos was released from jail, and the victims’ families said they only learned about it after seeing a KSAT social media post.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with the district attorney’s office or what they’re doing,” said Rachel Soto, Savanah’s grandmother. “If we go to trial, what’s going to happen then? Are they going to give us another slap in the face?”
New developments surfaced a day later in another capital murder case — the shooting death of 14-year-old Simon Cuevas.
Cuevas was walking home from school when a group attacked him and fatally shot him in April.
Two defendants, who were charged as adults, were indicted in October on third-degree felony charges. No one in the case is currently charged with murder.
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Cuevas’ mother, Alejandra Cuevas, said she did not know about the indictments until contacted by KSAT.
“I just feel that the San Antonio district attorney needs to do better,” Cuevas said.
The families’ concerns come as three former San Antonio police officers were found not guilty Monday in the 2023 shooting death of Melissa Perez.
Critics have argued the case should never have gone to trial.
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Since the verdict, social media posts have been filled with comments from residents expressing frustration with the justice system, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office and Gonzales’ handling of recent cases.
Gonzales’ communications team declined to comment on the Soto and Cuevas cases last week and again after the Perez verdict. KSAT requested an interview with Gonzales on Tuesday, but he declined comment.
Former prosecutor Karl Alexander, who worked under Gonzales before becoming a defense attorney, criticized the administration’s record.
“I’ve been less than impressed with this administration’s ability to evaluate cases,” Alexander said. “Their conviction rate is some of the lowest we’ve seen in decades. There’s hopefully some relief in sight for Bexar County now that the DA has announced he’s not seeking re-election.”
Voters will elect a new district attorney next year with Gonzales announcing that he won’t seeking re-election.
Several candidates, including two current employees of Gonzales’ office, have already announced campaigns.
KSAT will continue to monitor the Guerra and Soto case, as well as the Cuevas case, until a resolution is reached.
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