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Murder of Sandra Cantu

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Sandra Cantu
Sandra Cantu
Born
Sandra Renee Cantu

(2001-03-08)March 8, 2001
Tracy, California, U.S.A.
DiedMarch 27, 2009 (aged 8) [1]
Tracy, California, U.S.A.
Cause of deathHomicidal asphyxiation
Body discoveredSan Joaquin County, California, USA
Resting placeTracy, California, USA
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUS
Known forMurder Victim
Height4 ft 0 in (122 cm)

Sandra Renee Cantu (March 8, 2001 - March 27, 2009) was an eight year old American girl who attracted national attention after she went missing on March 27, 2009. Her body was discovered several days later inside a suitcase in a nearby irrigation pond. On April 10, 2009, police arrested Cantu's neighbor, 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby, and charged her with the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Cantu. She pled guilty and was sentenced to 25 years to life without the possibility of parole.[2]

Disappearance

Eight-year-old Sandra Cantu lived in Tracy, California at Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park with her mother, grandparents and three older siblings. She played at a friend's house after school until approximately 4:00 p.m., when she returned home to check in. She left the residence saying that she was going to play at another friend's house. When she didn't return for dinner, the family called the police at 7:53 p.m.[3]

Police located footage from a surveillance camera near the family home. The footage showed Sandra crossing the street in front of her home before moving out of frame played on national news stations. A search of the mobile home complex was conducted without results and the FBI was called in to assist on the case. Over the course of the weekend, dogs, equestrian teams, ATVs and a helicopter from the California Highway Patrol were brought in to search for Sandra. A $22,000 reward was being offered for information in the case, according to police.[3]

One early suspect was a local man who was witnessed kissing Cantu on the mouth two years earlier at a local swimming pool, when she was six. He was interviewed and cleared of any involvement.[3][4]

Sandra's body was found 10 days later when an irrigation pond underwent a routine draining and a suitcase containing the body emerged.[5] Cantu's autopsy revealed that she had been beaten and sexually assaulted with a foreign object before being smothered. Her toxicology results show the presence of Alprazolam, also known as Xanax.[6][7]

Emergence of a suspect

After Cantu's remains had been found, police became suspicious of a number of odd coincidences regarding a neighbor of the family. Melissa Huckaby, a 28 year old Sunday school teacher, lived in the same mobile home park as Cantu. Huckaby was born in Orange County, California. She is the granddaughter of Clifford Lawless, former pastor of Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy, California.[8] Huckaby studied criminology at a community college before she and her daughter moved in with her grandparents to the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park. She told police that Cantu often played with her own daughter.[9]

On the day Cantu disappeared, Huckaby sent a text to Cantu's mother that said: "Tell the police that I had something stolen today around 4 p.m. I don't know if that makes a difference or not."[10]

The next day, a vigil was held for Sandra. Melissa approached police and FBI agents to report that she had found a note on the ground. They reported she was "very agitated, crying, hyperventilating." The note stated: "Cantu locked in stolin suitcase thrown in water onn Bacchetti Rd. & Whitehall Rd witness," [sic][9]

Prior to the discovery of the body, Huckaby wasn't a prime suspect based on her gender, according to lead investigator, Tracy police Detective Timothy Bauer. "She wasn't really a top priority," Bauer said. They were "focusing on all these guys in the trailer park." The profile that FBI experts assigned to the case was a white male, 25 to 40, with a criminal history of sexual assault or child pornography. Huckaby was interviewed on multiple occasions, but her behavior was assumed to be attention seeking, rather than evidence of involvement. After the body was found in the suitcase she had reported stolen, they began taking a closer look at Huckaby's behavior. They took notice of "the unusual fact that a woman who reported losing a suitcase should be the one woman out of everyone in this complex who should happen to find a note that reports that the stolen suitcase was used to hide the child's body," FBI Special Agent Michael Conrad told the grand jury.[9]

The police got a further lead when a retired U.S. Marine and his wife notified police that they spotted Melissa Huckaby and her SUV at the irrigation pond on their property at Bacchetti Road and Whitehall Road between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the day Sandra disappeared. They reportedly recognized her on television. He described her as "distracted and hurried", and she told him "I just had to pee real quick", when he saw her.[6][9]

Police reviewed surveillance footage further, which revealed that Cantu is seen walking towards Huckaby's residence at 3:54 p.m. Huckaby's SUV is seen driving away from her residence eight minutes later. At approximately the same time, she calls the trailer park manager to report that a suitcase, made by the manufacturer Eddie Bauer was stolen from her trailer. Eighty-five minutes later, surveillance video from the church parking lot where she teaches Sunday school shows her driving away from the church. Thirty minutes later, she is seen returning to the church. It is during this 30 minute time frame that she was spotted at the irrigation pond.[7]

FBI agents searched the church and collected a rolling pin from the kitchen. It is assumed to be the object used in the sexual assault. The rolling pin reportedly had a "bloody smudge" on it as well as a bent handle. authorities said. The rolling pin came back positive for Sandra's DNA.[6]

Huckaby was arrested and charged with the murder. She pled guilty to first degree murder and kidnapping to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to life without parole.[7]

Search for a motive

Many were shocked at the arrest and the lack of an obvious motive. Huckaby has no history of sexual abuse crimes and similar crimes by women are rare. "It's very unusual for women to be involved in an abduction and murder of a child," said retired FBI profiler Candice DeLong. "Sometimes we see this when the woman is working with a male partner. It does not appear to be the case this time." Despite the finding that Cantu had been sexually assaulted, she said, "This was not a sexually motivated crime."[9][11] Huckaby herself cannot seem to explain why she committed this crime. "I still cannot understand why I did what I did. This is a question I will struggle with for the rest of my life," she said. Huckaby had a history of mental health problems, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.[9] The prosecutor in the case speculated that she committed this crime for attention."There were 20 or so times that Melissa cut herself, set fires or verbally or psychologically attacked someone else, such as a roommate," Deputy District Attorney Thomas Tesla said "And there was something like that going on here [after the murder], where she wanted to be the center of attention."[12]

Further allegations against Huckaby emerged after her arrest. Ten weeks prior to Cantu's murder on January 17, another child living in the same mobile home park was reported missing. The police began a search that concluded when she was dropped off at her home several hours later by Melissa Huckaby. The family drove to the emergency room when the child appeared to be sedated and slurring her words. Upon examination, the child was found to have muscle relaxants in her system. Later, the child would report that Huckaby gave her a cup of water that "tasted like medicine", but had very little memory of the events that day. Huckaby was questioned, but police ultimately decided not to press charges, citing lack of evidence. Following her arrest for Cantu's murder, she was charged with the January 17 incident.[13]

Police also revealed that Huckaby was a person of interest in the investigation regarding two fires set in 2007 at a home where she lived at the time.[14] She was also suspected in another drugging involving a man who was arrested by police for driving under the influence. Police suspect she slipped him the substance found in his system.[15] Police eventually dropped charges for these crimes as part of her plea deal for Cantu's murder.[16]

References

  1. ^ Associated Press (April 14, 2009). "Crying mom charged with cantu murder, rape". Fox News.
  2. ^ Ferran, Lee; NETTER, SARAH (May 10, 2010). "Home> Cuomo on the Case Melissa Huckaby Pleads Guilty to Sandra Cantu's Murder". ABC News.
  3. ^ a b c Netter, Sarah (March 31, 2009). "The Frantic Search for Sandra Cantu". ABC News.
  4. ^ "FBI re-questions man they say admits to kissing missng california girl". Fox News. April 3, 2009.
  5. ^ Netter, Sarah (April 7, 2009). "Sandra Cantu found in a suitcase; police closing in on a suspect". ABC News.
  6. ^ a b c Lee, Henry K. (June 15, 2010). "Tracy girl's killer apologizes, gets life term". San Francisco Gate.
  7. ^ a b c Goldman, Russell (June 14, 2010). "Melissa Huckaby Used Noose to Kill 8-Year-old Sandra Cantu". ABC News.
  8. ^ Tully, Sarah; Ponsi, Lou (April 19, 2009). "Woman suspected in 8-year-old's slaying grew up in O.C." Orange County Register.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Simerman, John; Kazmi, Sophia (2010-06-19). "A calculated killing: The case against Melissa Huckaby". San Jose Mercury News.
  10. ^ Breuer, Howard (2010-06-27). "INSIDE STORY: Clues to Why Melissa Huckaby Murdered an 8-Year-Old Girl". People.
  11. ^ Associated Press (April 12, 2009). "Sources: Cantu Was Murdered In Church". CBS evening news.
  12. ^ Breuer, Howard (2010-06-27). "INSIDE STORY: Clues to Why Melissa Huckaby Murdered an 8-Year-Old Girl". People magazine.
  13. ^ Wadsworth, Jennifer (2009-05-23). "New Charges: Melissa Huckaby Drugged People". The daily Beast.
  14. ^ Associated Press (April 23, 2009). "O.C. police investigate rape and killing suspect in two arson cases". L.A. Times.
  15. ^ Martinez, Mike (2009-05-22). "Accused killer Melissa Huckaby faces new charges of poisoning Tracy girl, Hayward man". San Jose Mercury News.
  16. ^ Associated Press (May 11, 2010). "Teacher guilty of murdering 8-year-old; other charges dropped". Boston Globe.
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