Modesto Triple-Murder Suspect, Previously Deported, Appears In Court
Joaquin Escoto appeared Monday, June 1, 2026, in Stanislaus County Superior Court in Modesto after being charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of a mother, her infant and the woman's mother.[1]
He faces special-circumstance allegations, a knife enhancement, child-abuse resulting in death for a child under 8, and child endangerment, prosecutors say.[1] Court records and prosecutors identified the victims as 23-year-old Fabiola Gonzalez-Nunez, her two-week-old son Mateo, and 54-year-old Sylvia Nunez-Villalobos.[1] During Monday's appearance, observers said Escoto briefly flashed a grin in court.[1]
DHS says Escoto is a Mexican national who illegally entered the U.S. in 2018, was deported once and later returned, after which he accrued multiple arrests including four DUI convictions.[1] ICE says it lodged a detainer after a June 2025 DUI arrest, but local authorities released Escoto without notifying ICE, the agencies said.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, June 1, 2026, Joaquin Escoto appeared in Stanislaus County Superior Court in Modesto, California.
- Escoto is charged with three counts of first-degree murder plus special-circumstance allegations, a knife enhancement, child-abuse resulting in death under age 8, and child endangerment.
- Victims were identified as 23-year-old Fabiola Gonzalez-Nunez, her 2-week-old son Mateo, and 54-year-old Sylvia Nunez-Villalobos.
- DHS says Escoto is a Mexican national who illegally entered the U.S. in 2018, was deported once, and later returned and accrued multiple arrests including four DUIs.
- ICE says it lodged a detainer after a June 2025 DUI arrest, but local authorities released Escoto without notifying ICE.
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