A quiet Modesto neighborhood was shaken to its core Thursday morning after police discovered three members of the same family dead inside a home following what investigators described as a brutal stabbing attack.
Officers with the Modesto Police Department rushed to a residence on Monterey Avenue shortly after 9:20 a.m. after receiving reports of a disturbance inside the home. When they arrived, they found 23-year-old Fabiola Gonzalez suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene before paramedics could save her.
As officers searched through the home, the situation became even more heartbreaking. Investigators found 54-year-old Silvia Nuñez and a newborn baby identified by family members as Baby Mateo. Both victims had also suffered apparent stab wounds during the violent attack.
Silvia Nuñez was pronounced dead inside the residence. Baby Mateo was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but despite emergency efforts by doctors, the infant later died from his injuries.
Authorities also located a 4-year-old child inside the home during the investigation. That child survived and was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation. Police have not released additional details about the child’s condition, but officials confirmed the child was alive when officers arrived.
The horrifying scene quickly triggered a major police response across the neighborhood. Investigators received information suggesting the suspect might still be close to the area, prompting officers to secure nearby streets while SWAT teams and specialized units searched surrounding homes.
Police later located 28-year-old Joaquin Escoto hiding inside a nearby residence. He was taken into custody without incident. Investigators believe Escoto shared a child with Fabiola Gonzalez, though authorities have not publicly discussed what may have led to the deadly violence inside the home.
Neighbors described the scene as devastating and difficult to process. Patrol cars filled the area while detectives spent hours gathering evidence from the residence. Families nearby remained stunned as news spread that a newborn child and two women had lost their lives in a single act of violence.
Officials said the attack appears to be an isolated incident and confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public. Detectives continue working to piece together the exact sequence of events and determine what happened inside the home that morning.
Family members later identified the victims as Fabiola Gonzalez, Silvia Nuñez, and Baby Mateo. The tragedy has left relatives grieving three generations of one family lost in a matter of hours.
