Savanah Nicole Soto: Ex-FBI agent links pregnant teen's murder and brother's 2022 demise to 'gang life'

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: The death of pregnant Texas teenager Savanah Nicole Soto is being framed as a narrative of "gang life," according to a former FBI agent.

This perspective draws connections to the passing of her 15-year-old brother, who was killed in November 2022, purportedly in retaliation for a drug robbery.

The bodies of 18-year-old Soto and her 22-year-old boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, were discovered on Tuesday, December 26, in a San Antonio parking lot. Police confirmed that both had suffered gunshot wounds to the head.

Soto, who was nine months pregnant at the time of her death, had plans for induced labor scheduled on December 23. She was last seen at her San Antonio apartment building the day before this scheduled procedure.

Former FBI agent comments on Savanah Nicole's death

Police Chief Bill McManus called the slayings "perplexing," as per the Messenger.  But Jennifer Coffindaffer, a former FBI agent, said "This is a story of gang life."

"15 YO steals dope. Dope dealing teen retaliates by luring 15 YO who stole his dope to his death by using an underage girl Family of 15-year-old attack the teen dope dealer who set up the murder of the 15 YO. And now we have an 18 YO who was 9 months pregnant and her unborn baby and the baby's father all deceased," she wrote on Friday, December 29, evening on her X social media account.

"Hoping other members of the Soto and Rivas family can break free," she continued.

What happened to Soto's brother?

Soto's brother, Ethan, met his tragic end in May 2022, allegedly at the hands of 18-year-old Victor Nathaneal Rivas. Police reports suggested that this act was in retaliation for Ethan's purported theft of THC cartridges from Rivas.

According to court documents obtained by the New York Post, Rivas reportedly reached out to a girl on Instagram, requesting her assistance in setting up Ethan for an ambush.

Rivas "stated several times that he was looking for the person who robbed him and was going to ‘catch’ him when he saw him,” according to an affidavit.

During the incident at the family's house, reports suggest that Rivas fired several shots at Ethan, but the 15-year-old managed to escape unharmed.

In October, during Rivas' preliminary hearing, a confrontation erupted when family members of the accused, the Sotos, leaped over the railing and assaulted Rivas before court staff intervened. Allegedly, Rivas made gestures toward the Soto family, sparking the altercation.

Earlier this week, it came to light that Guerra had been on probation for assaulting Savanah the previous Christmas. Guerra had been permitted to maintain contact with her while on probation, which had been extended until February 2025.