Sandra Cantu #2 4/09/09 - 4/15/09

[cookie]

this case is disturbing in oh so many ways! first of all, how do we warn our children against someone like this? We tell them to watch out for strangers, for inappropriate touches, someone who makes them feel uncomfortable etc.....but how do we warn or prepare them to look out for their playmates mother?????  your own neighbor? words fail me at the moment on that!

does anyone think that perhaps Sandra walked in while MH was doing drugs and MH felt that she might tell someone so she had to get rid of her? I can not for the life of me figure out why she would have killed Sandra...and the fact that she was already murdered by the time she was reported missing....it must have been really fast and from anger? her clothes and her flip flops still on her? nothing is making sense to me....
.

[Tamikosmom]

Klaas - thanks for fixing my typo!

I have been thinking that maybe MH was using Sandra as a sort of babysitter/playmate for her daughter instead of them being really good friends.  I have 2 kiddos that are the same age difference and they will only play together when absolutely desperate!!  I'm just sayin'...

If we knew nothing else about the church, the searches, the shed, the digging, and especially the prior investigation regarding drugging another child,  then I may just think that Sandra had done something to irritate MH and she just flipped out and hurt her.  I also thought about a revenge angle regarding the cat traps by Sandra's grandfather.  It just seems rather far fetched to think that MH just killed her for no other purpose than to kill her.  There's more to the story, IMO, and I really hope the family gets some answers. 

I hope the good people of Tracy demand to know more about the Tracy60 investigation and demand that something be done.  I had a situation in my child's school where a teacher was sharing a very inappropriate play with her class and I am absolutely shocked that she thought nobody would mind.  I am going before our school board to lodge a formal complaint and so far I am the only parent doing so.  My kids attend the best school district in my city and surrounding cities, we are in the Bible Belt, and most families attend church.  Still, I am the only one protesting.  I am not sure if it's because other parent's aren't hearing the stories I get from my child, or if they just don't want to make waves.  I will know soon, but just get really depressed when I think about it.  I can't even imagine what I'd do if I knew about a child porn ring and my local LE wasn't doing anything/enough about it.  ((((hugs)))) to our friends in Tracy during this horrible time and to Sandra's family and friends.

O4Bull ... doing the right thing is no always easy ... it is just right.

Thank you.

Children deserve to have advocates in all walks of life ... parents ... teachers ... law enforcement.  Children are so defenceless against those without a conscience who will steal their innocence to satisfy selfish desires ... to gain financially.

Janet

[leslee]

Sandra was dead before she was reported missing.
Suitcase was left in the driveway then gone when she got back, of course it was. But did Melissa move it? She's only 125 pounds. Sure adrenoline would help. Maybe that's why the suitcase was so close to the road in the pond, she couldn't throw it far because of the weight.
What about the beige truck that was by the pond?

If the luggage had wheels it would make it a little easier to roll but lifting it into a trunk? I think she had help somehow.

[pink angel]

::monkey wide eyes::

Over yonder a person who is a poster claims to have gotten a call yesterday from a friend who's Tracy MIL works with someone who lives in the park and he said Sandra was the child months ago, that MH was questioned about drugging.

She was found behind a building and rushed to the hospital and it was found to be a drug overdose.


Take that for the telephone tag game that it is. It could be true being what we know now and why they were looking at her early in the game.

[klaasend]

Sandra was dead before she was reported missing.
Suitcase was left in the driveway then gone when she got back, of course it was. But did Melissa move it? She's only 125 pounds. Sure adrenoline would help. Maybe that's why the suitcase was so close to the road in the pond, she couldn't throw it far because of the weight.
What about the beige truck that was by the pond?

If the luggage had wheels it would make it a little easier to roll but lifting it into a trunk? I think she had help somehow.

Maybe Sandra got into Melissa's car willingly.  Say the luggage just happened to be already in the car.  They go over to the church and Sandra is killed/dies.  Then it's at the church that Sandra is put into the luggage.  I still say Melissa had help and Fred Williams is real high on my list of helpers.

[joesamas mama]

Sandra was dead before she was reported missing.
Suitcase was left in the driveway then gone when she got back, of course it was. But did Melissa move it? She's only 125 pounds. Sure adrenoline would help. Maybe that's why the suitcase was so close to the road in the pond, she couldn't throw it far because of the weight.
What about the beige truck that was by the pond?

If the luggage had wheels it would make it a little easier to roll but lifting it into a trunk? I think she had help somehow.

Maybe Sandra got into Melissa's car willingly.  Say the luggage just happened to be already in the car.  They go over to the church and Sandra is killed/dies.  Then it's at the church that Sandra is put into the luggage.  I still say Melissa had help and Fred Williams is real high on my list of helpers.

Klaas, can you help me? I haven't been keeping up with this case, but could you please tell me who Kyle is everyone is referring too? TIA JSM I just came here this morning because of the arrest haven't read anything in here. It is too too sad for me. TIA JSM

[pink angel]

this case is disturbing in oh so many ways! first of all, how do we warn our children against someone like this? We tell them to watch out for strangers, for inappropriate touches, someone who makes them feel uncomfortable etc.....but how do we warn or prepare them to look out for their playmates mother?????  your own neighbor? words fail me at the moment on that!

does anyone think that perhaps Sandra walked in while MH was doing drugs and MH felt that she might tell someone so she had to get rid of her? I can not for the life of me figure out why she would have killed Sandra...and the fact that she was already murdered by the time she was reported missing....it must have been really fast and from anger? her clothes and her flip flops still on her? nothing is making sense to me....
.

She went missing just after four and was reported missing at eight, IIRC.

It doesn't take long to molest and drug a child, sadly.

[cookie]

Sandra was dead before she was reported missing.
Suitcase was left in the driveway then gone when she got back, of course it was. But did Melissa move it? She's only 125 pounds. Sure adrenoline would help. Maybe that's why the suitcase was so close to the road in the pond, she couldn't throw it far because of the weight.
What about the beige truck that was by the pond?

If the luggage had wheels it would make it a little easier to roll but lifting it into a trunk? I think she had help somehow.

Maybe Sandra got into Melissa's car willingly.  Say the luggage just happened to be already in the car.  They go over to the church and Sandra is killed/dies.  Then it's at the church that Sandra is put into the luggage.  I still say Melissa had help and Fred Williams is real high on my list of helpers.

and if MH is desperate, she would be able to life Sandra into the luggage that is already IN the car...she wouldn't be lifting Sandra and the suitcase at the same time....
but then to put the suitcase in the water, would she have parked at the waters edge and then just slid the suitcase down the side of the bank till the water took it under? hmmm...the thoughts are making me ill to think about...how cold blooded this all is sounding...

[O4Bull]

::monkey wide eyes::

Over yonder a person who is a poster claims to have gotten a call yesterday from a friend who's Tracy MIL works with someone who lives in the park and he said Sandra was the child months ago, that MH was questioned about drugging.

She was found behind a building and rushed to the hospital and it was found to be a drug overdose.


Take that for the telephone tag game that it is. It could be true being what we know now and why they were looking at her early in the game.

I read this too, and if it is true, I am feeling even sicker for her family.  If this is the case she was going to court for, then could she have killed her to shut her up or keep her from testifying? 

But, why would her parents continue to let her go to MH's home if it is true?

[cookie]

this case is disturbing in oh so many ways! first of all, how do we warn our children against someone like this? We tell them to watch out for strangers, for inappropriate touches, someone who makes them feel uncomfortable etc.....but how do we warn or prepare them to look out for their playmates mother?????  your own neighbor? words fail me at the moment on that!

does anyone think that perhaps Sandra walked in while MH was doing drugs and MH felt that she might tell someone so she had to get rid of her? I can not for the life of me figure out why she would have killed Sandra...and the fact that she was already murdered by the time she was reported missing....it must have been really fast and from anger? her clothes and her flip flops still on her? nothing is making sense to me....
.

She went missing just after four and was reported missing at eight, IIRC.

It doesn't take long to molest and drug a child, sadly.

I realize that...

has there been mention that this child was molested or drugged officially?
are others thinking that MH molested this child? my mind can't go there....

[klaasend]

Sandra was dead before she was reported missing.
Suitcase was left in the driveway then gone when she got back, of course it was. But did Melissa move it? She's only 125 pounds. Sure adrenoline would help. Maybe that's why the suitcase was so close to the road in the pond, she couldn't throw it far because of the weight.
What about the beige truck that was by the pond?

If the luggage had wheels it would make it a little easier to roll but lifting it into a trunk? I think she had help somehow.

Maybe Sandra got into Melissa's car willingly.  Say the luggage just happened to be already in the car.  They go over to the church and Sandra is killed/dies.  Then it's at the church that Sandra is put into the luggage.  I still say Melissa had help and Fred Williams is real high on my list of helpers.

Klaas, can you help me? I haven't been keeping up with this case, but could you please tell me who Kyle is everyone is referring too? TIA JSM I just came here this morning because of the arrest haven't read anything in here. It is too too sad for me. TIA JSM

Story about Kyle - he was kidnapped and tortured:

http://www.ktvu.com/news/18183765/detail.html

[MuffyBee]

OT

Please go to each thread and wish these two monkeys a Happy Birthday!

CBB's Birthday Thread:
http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=4842.20

Deenie's Birthday Thread:
http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=4843.msg763842#new

[JessStar]

Hello everyone.  This is my first post!  Thanks for having me.  I've read through just about all of your posts, and have been living with this case since I first heard about it.  This case has left a profound hole in my heart.  Anyway, let me make some observations and let me know what you think.

If we look at the specific crime at hand (that is, poor Sandra's murder) I feel pretty confident that MH acted alone.  Keep in mind that little Sandra weighed only 45 pounds-not much weight for any adult to carry.  I think it was a crime of opportunity.  If we try to digest all of the material evidence, here's the picture I see.  Sandra left her house to visit a friend. For whatever reason (the reason isn't necessarily relevant), Sandra leaves the house and is on her way home.  The surveillance video you see is her walking back to her house.  Now, if you watch the video carefully, Sandra is skipping happily along like a typical little child.  Suddenly, she stops, changes her direction (I think her intention was to go home), brushes the hair out of her face, and walks briskly. Someone called to her.  Someone she knew.  That someone was monster woman.

Now, remember, everyone's account of little Sandra was that she was a very sweet child that spent a lot of time with adults in her neighborhood.  Specifically, she spent a lot of time with MH, the Pastor and his wife.  My guess is that she also liked to help people out.  Think about the little kids that you spend time with, especially when they're bored and have nothing to do.  It certainly logical that MH saw Sandra walking toward her home and called out to her.  Something like, "Hi Sandra--can you give me hand with this?"  Think about it.

Unfortunately, Sandra walks over to her.  She helps MH put whatever she has in her car.  Now for the kidnapping part--"Sandra, I'd love if you would come with me to the Church and help me unload this stuff."  Sandra would never say no.  She knows this woman.  She's her friend's mother after all.  At this point, the suitcase is loaded into the car and yes, it contains the Sunday School decorations.  MH makes the request with a sinister motive--one we don't know yet.  But that is kidnapping in any state--if someone induces you to go somewhere with them under false pretenses, and you go, you've been kidnapped.

Ok, the two make it to the church.  The car is unloaded and the articles, including the suitcase, are placed inside.  Sandra and MH are now alone inside the church.  Up to this point, nothing, to anyone, is suspicious because these two spent a lot of time together.  But there's the opportunity.  MH drugs her for whatever reason.  While it may show motive, the reason is not relevant to this specific crime.  (But there will be a motive come trial time--you can bet on it).  But she's now drugged, but too much.  Sandra overdoses and dies.  Monster Woman panics.  She unloads the suitcase and places Sandra's fully clothed body inside.  She takes the suitcase and places it back in her SUV.  Still, nothing particularly suspicious.  She drives off and at some point, disposes of the suitcase at a place she is familiar with.  Crime solved.  Can you say "capital conviction?"  The "special circumstance" is the kidnapping.

I think the evidence they obtained yesterday at the church corroborated the story.  My guess is they found the school supplies and perhaps they found trace evidence of Sandra on the bed or whatever it was they took out.  Trace evidence that transferred there once Sandra was overdosed because Monster Woman placed her there.  They may have found Sandra's finger prints.  Monster Woman's finger prints would not have been unusual.  Sandra's would be quite unusual.

I don't think anything more sinister happened to Sandra.  Was a sinister motive intended?  Perhaps.  Perhaps she intended to call some of her church mates after the drug kicked in.  Perhaps items the PD or CSI took out included a digital camera or some other form of media.  I think that's what Sheneman was talking about when he responded that there were no further arrests IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.  I think there's a bigger crime, but I don't think it is particularly relevant to Sandra's murder, except perhaps to show motive.

Ok, my first post is probably too long.  Sorry.  But I wanted to get my thoughts out.  Any comments?

By the way, while I agree with Sheneman that there can be no happy ending to this tragedy, I'm happy that Sandra's murderer was so swiftly arrested, and that this isn't another Haleigh case.

Thanks people. 

[klaasend]

Sandra was dead before she was reported missing.
Suitcase was left in the driveway then gone when she got back, of course it was. But did Melissa move it? She's only 125 pounds. Sure adrenoline would help. Maybe that's why the suitcase was so close to the road in the pond, she couldn't throw it far because of the weight.
What about the beige truck that was by the pond?

If the luggage had wheels it would make it a little easier to roll but lifting it into a trunk? I think she had help somehow.

Maybe Sandra got into Melissa's car willingly.  Say the luggage just happened to be already in the car.  They go over to the church and Sandra is killed/dies.  Then it's at the church that Sandra is put into the luggage.  I still say Melissa had help and Fred Williams is real high on my list of helpers.

and if MH is desperate, she would be able to life Sandra into the luggage that is already IN the car...she wouldn't be lifting Sandra and the suitcase at the same time....
but then to put the suitcase in the water, would she have parked at the waters edge and then just slid the suitcase down the side of the bank till the water took it under? hmmm...the thoughts are making me ill to think about...how cold blooded this all is sounding...

I weigh less than Melissa and I'm OLD.  I just lifted a 50lb bag of concrete mix last weekend.  I'm sure Melissa could have lifted 45lbs.

[pink angel]

Susan Levy of nearby Modesto, mother of slain Washington intern Chandra Levy, appeared arm-in-arm with Angie and Joe Chavez as they spoke with reporters.

Levy said she was there to support the family as they, too, dealt with the tragic loss of a child. District of Columbia authorities recently issued an arrest warrant for a Salvadoran immigrant with sexually assaulting and killing Levy on a trail in Rock Creek Park in May 2001 in a heavily publicized case.

During an early morning news conference, Tracy Police Chief Janet Thiessen said investigators worked the case tirelessly in the hopes of finding Sandra.

"We have information that Sandra, by the time she was reported missing to us, that she probably had already been murdered," said Thiessen.

Sheneman told The Associated Press that The Tracy Press' published interviews with Huckaby revealed inconsistencies that prompted further inquiries from investigators.

Huckaby had previously told The Tracy Press that Sandra visited her home on the day of her disappearance to play with her 5-year-old daughter. But Huckaby said she'd turned Sandra away because her daughter needed to pick up her toys and Sandra went to another friend's home. Huckaby also said she had left her suitcase in the driveway that day, and that it was missing.

Sheneman confirmed early Saturday that the suitcase that held Sandra's body belonged to Huckaby.

The Tracy Press reported that Huckaby was released Thursday from Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, where she spent several days in intensive care for what she described as "internal bleeding."

Huckaby is a granddaughter of Pastor Clifford Lawless, whose Clover Road Baptist Church was the subject of a police search. Huckaby taught Sunday school at the church and lived with Lawless in the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park that also was Sandra's home.

A phone call to Lawless was not immediately returned.

Huckaby's family had been questioned at length during the investigation, and their home and vehicles had been searched, Sheneman said.

Huckaby was scheduled to appear in court on April 17 to check in with a county mental health program as part of a three-year probation sentence for a petty theft charge to which she pleaded no contest.

In an interview with the newspaper on Friday, Huckaby said someone else by the same name was facing charges for the attempted November theft from Target.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman Terry Thornton said Huckaby has no state prison record.

Huckaby worked as a checker at a Food for Less grocery store in a strip mall just east of the mobile park for nearly four years, until she was fired sometime in 2004, said Matt Duncan, an assistant manager at the store now known as FoodMaxx.

"I wouldn't have anything bad to say about her, until now," said Duncan, who has worked at the store off-and-on for about 10 years. "I would've never suspected her to do something like this."

Barbara Sokoloski, 69, whose home is behind Sandra's, said she is glad an arrest was made. She described Sandra as "a friendly sweet little girl who always went around trying to find somebody to play with."

"It's too bad that kids these days can't go out and play like we did when I was a little girl," she said.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/11/state/n031600D34.DTL

[pink angel]

::monkey wide eyes::

Over yonder a person who is a poster claims to have gotten a call yesterday from a friend who's Tracy MIL works with someone who lives in the park and he said Sandra was the child months ago, that MH was questioned about drugging.

She was found behind a building and rushed to the hospital and it was found to be a drug overdose.


Take that for the telephone tag game that it is. It could be true being what we know now and why they were looking at her early in the game.

I read this too, and if it is true, I am feeling even sicker for her family.  If this is the case she was going to court for, then could she have killed her to shut her up or keep her from testifying? 

But, why would her parents continue to let her go to MH's home if it is true?

Perhaps her parent's wouldn't. Perhaps this was the motive?
She could have been fixated with the little girl.

Heck, I don't know.

I would move if I thought my child had been drugged by someone and LE did nothing about it.

[joesamas mama]

Sandra was dead before she was reported missing.
Suitcase was left in the driveway then gone when she got back, of course it was. But did Melissa move it? She's only 125 pounds. Sure adrenoline would help. Maybe that's why the suitcase was so close to the road in the pond, she couldn't throw it far because of the weight.
What about the beige truck that was by the pond?

If the luggage had wheels it would make it a little easier to roll but lifting it into a trunk? I think she had help somehow.

Maybe Sandra got into Melissa's car willingly.  Say the luggage just happened to be already in the car.  They go over to the church and Sandra is killed/dies.  Then it's at the church that Sandra is put into the luggage.  I still say Melissa had help and Fred Williams is real high on my list of helpers.

Klaas, can you help me? I haven't been keeping up with this case, but could you please tell me who Kyle is everyone is referring too? TIA JSM I just came here this morning because of the arrest haven't read anything in here. It is too too sad for me. TIA JSM

Story about Kyle - he was kidnapped and tortured:

http://www.ktvu.com/news/18183765/detail.html

Thanks Klaas. I think I probably will be sickened by it, but I will look at it.

[MuffyBee]

Welcome to Scared Monkeys JessStar    

[klaasend]

Excellent post JessStar and welcome! 

Yes the big question and the key to all of this is why would she drug a child if indeed she did.  Also, how is it possible there is nobody else involved.  Why would Fred Williams say the luggage was stolen from inside her car and that it had items for a rummage sale?

[JessStar]

::monkey wide eyes::

Over yonder a person who is a poster claims to have gotten a call yesterday from a friend who's Tracy MIL works with someone who lives in the park and he said Sandra was the child months ago, that MH was questioned about drugging.

She was found behind a building and rushed to the hospital and it was found to be a drug overdose.


Take that for the telephone tag game that it is. It could be true being what we know now and why they were looking at her early in the game.

I read this too, and if it is true, I am feeling even sicker for her family.  If this is the case she was going to court for, then could she have killed her to shut her up or keep her from testifying? 

But, why would her parents continue to let her go to MH's home if it is true?

I don't believe this for one minute. Someone would have CERTAINLY mentioned that to the media long ago. It would have made much bigger news than Jessie (?) Williams or the guy that reported seeing the strange guy in the area where the body was found.  I have a theory about that, if anyone wants to hear it.