California’s Golden Acorn Casino Site of Apparent Murder-Suicide

Article by : Erik Gibbs Dec 29, 2023

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An investigation into a tragic incident was initiated on Wednesday, centering around what appears to be a murder-suicide involving a man and a woman. The bodies were discovered within a vehicle parked in the expansive grounds of the Golden Acorn Casino.

The unfolding of events began at approximately 12:25 PM on Tuesday when homicide detectives from the San Diego Police Department’s Southern Division responded to a call from US Customs and Border Patrol officers.

The federal officers reported the discovery of a vehicle linked to a man and woman who had been reported missing by their family members in San Ysidro the previous week.

The scene unfolded in the casino parking lot situated at 1800 Golden Acorn Way in Campo, a locale in the rural area of East San Diego County.

Investigators are still delving into the details surrounding this unfortunate incident. The preliminary examination suggested that the man and woman were reported missing under circumstances deemed suspicious, as detailed by SDPD Lt. Steve Shebloski.

Subsequent investigations have revealed that the deceased individuals were a married couple living apart.

A domestic violence incident likely occurred before their reported disappearance. Upon discovery by officers, the man was found dead, with indications pointing towards a self-inflicted single gunshot wound to the head.

The initial findings from the investigation strongly lean towards classifying his demise as suicide.

Awaiting confirmation from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, the nature of the woman’s injuries remains undetermined, according to Shebloski.

Shebloski categorizes her demise as a homicide, with her 52-year-old husband identified as the sole suspect in what seems to be a case rooted in domestic violence. The victim was a 45-year-old woman.

According to various sources, the deceased, identified as Melissa and Johnny Soto, were undergoing a rough patch in their marriage, leading to their separation in July, after more than two decades together.

The last glimpses of the couple were seemingly captured by surveillance cameras belonging to vigilant neighbors. Around 8:51 PM, the footage captures a car, believed to be Melissa’s, entering the Soto home’s driveway.

Witness Raymond Arzola noted a man exiting the driver’s seat. Subsequently, at 10:19 PM, the same vehicle reverses out of the driveway, executes a turn, and re-enters the driveway.

Six minutes later, another neighbor’s surveillance footage unveils the garage door and car trunk both ajar. Arzola speculates that Johnny is visible in the video. Despite a police check of the trunk, no discernible findings were reported by the family.