A devastating crime unfolded in Modesto on May 28 when officers responding to a reported disturbance near Monterey and Thrasher avenues discovered what would become one of the region’s most heartbreaking incidents. Two women and an infant were found dead from stab wounds—a tragedy that has reignited a heated debate about immigration enforcement and local sanctuary policies.
The victims were 23-year-old Fabiola Gonzalez-Nunez, 54-year-old Maria Sylvia Nunez-Villalobos, and a nearly two-week-old baby named Mateo Escoto Gonzalez. A three-year-old child was also found in the home and has since been released from the hospital. The suspect, 28-year-old Joaquin Escoto, was discovered hiding in a nearby residence and taken into custody without incident. Escoto was believed to be in a relationship with Gonzalez-Nunez and is the father of the uninjured three-year-old.
What makes this case particularly contentious is Escoto’s immigration history. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Escoto is from Jalisco, Mexico, and was living in the United States illegally. He had been deported in 2018 but re-entered the country at an unknown date and location. More troubling for federal authorities: Escoto had accumulated four prior DUI arrests, with the most recent occurring in June 2025. After that arrest, ICE placed a detainer with the San Joaquin County Jail requesting Escoto be turned over to immigration custody.
The DHS statement that followed was blunt:“Sanctuary politicians in California refused to cooperate and released him without notifying ICE.”This accusation has become a flashpoint in the broader national immigration debate. Whether California’s local-control policies on immigration enforcement bear responsibility for this specific tragedy—or whether such claims oversimplify a complex system—remains a matter of fierce disagreement.
For the families of Gonzalez-Nunez, Nunez-Villalobos, and baby Mateo, the policy arguments offer no solace. A family member named Javier, speaking at the crime scene, expressed the only sentiment that seemed to matter:“Suspect’s caught. You can’t really do anything to bring them back no more, but we just know that he’s going to be in there for a long time, you know, suffering, thinking about what he did.”
Orville Wright Elementary, located across the street from the crime scene, was placed on a precautionary lockdown as the investigation unfolded. Students and staff were later transported to a nearby junior high school. Police described the scene as a large crime scene with several blocks cordoned off while officers developed their plan to locate the suspect. Detectives have characterized the incident as isolated, with no ongoing threat to the public.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
