| Sandra Cantu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sandra Renee Cantu March 8, 2001 Tracy, California, USA |
| Disappeared | March 27, 2009 (aged 8)[1] April 6, 2009 Tracy, California, USA |
| Cause of death | Homicidal asphyxiation |
| Body discovered | San Joaquin County, California, USA |
| Resting place | Tracy, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Hispanic |
| Citizenship | US |
| Home town | Tracy, California |
| Height | 4'0" (122 cm) |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20 kg) |
The Sandra Cantu homicide occurred on or about March 27, 2009, in Tracy, California.[1] Sandra Cantu (8 years old) was reported missing on March 27, 2009, wearing a pink Hello Kitty t-shirt and black leggings.[2] After several days, investigators began losing hope until on April 6, a man named Jose Luis Franco, while working at a dairy farm, found a suitcase in a pond containing the body of Sandra Cantu. Two days later, on April 9 investigators also found a note "From Sandra, to my killer" on a tree in the trailer park where she lived.[3]
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On April 10, 2009, police arrested 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby and charged her with the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Cantu. The black Eddie Bauer suitcase that contained the body of Cantu belonged to Huckaby, who reported to have left it in her driveway on the day Cantu went missing.[1] Police did not at the time provide details as to why Huckaby was arrested, hours after a story written by 22-year-old reporter Jennifer Wadsworth was published in the Tracy Press in which Huckaby claimed ownership of the suitcase.[4] She was placed under arrest after interrogation on April 10. Reports after her arrest indicated that in the days prior, Huckaby attempted suicide by swallowing knife blades; Huckaby reportedly denied this.[5]
It has been reported that police in Tracy believe she murdered Cantu in the church where she worked as a Sunday school teacher for five children, and where her grandfather served as a minister.[6] According to the pathologist's report, Sandra had been strangled with a torn piece of cloth that had been knotted into "a noose." The cause of death was determined to be "homicidal asphyxiation." Some of Sandra's injuries were also consistent with a rolling pin with a bent handle and bloody smudge found inside the church. The pathology report revealed that the smudge on the rolling pin matched Sandra's blood. The report also showed she was sexually assaulted with the object.[7]
Huckaby was indicted by a grand jury on charges of kidnapping, murder, and rape in the death of Cantu.[8] The prosecution subsequently announced that the death penalty would be sought at trial.[9] However, Huckaby pled guilty to the murder on May 10, 2010,[10] sparing her from a possible death sentence. All other charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.[11] On June 14, 2010 Huckaby was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the crime.[12][13]
| Melissa Huckaby | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 23, 1981 Orange County, California, U.S. |
| Charge(s) | First degree murder, et al. |
| Penalty | Life without parole |
| Status | Incarcerated in Central California Women's Facility |
| Occupation | Sunday School teacher |
| Children | Madison Huckaby |
Melissa Huckaby (born February 23, 1981) is the American Sunday School teacher who pleaded guilty to the murder of Sandra Cantu. Born in Orange County, California, Huckaby is the granddaughter of Pastor Clifford Lawless of Clover Road Baptist Church, in Tracy, California.[14] Before her arrest, Huckaby lived at the same mobile home park as Cantu, and she is the mother of a 5-year-old daughter, a close friend with whom Cantu played.