The Murder of Sandra Cantu II (Crime Documentary)
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"Sandra Renee Cantu was an 8-year-old American girl who attracted national attention after she went missing on March 27, 2009. Her body was discovered ten days later inside a suitcase in a nearby irrigation pond. On April 10, 2009, police arrested Cantu's neighbor, 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby, and charged her with the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Cantu. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
Eight-year-old Sandra Cantu lived in Tracy, California, at Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park with her mother, grandparents, and three older siblings. On March 27, 2009, she played at a friend's house after school until approximately 4:00 p.m., when she returned home. She left the caravan saying that she was going to play at another friend's house. When she did not return for dinner, the family called the police at 7:53 p.m.
Police located footage from a surveillance camera near the family home. The footage, which showed Sandra crossing the street in front of her home before moving out of frame, played on national news stations. A search of the mobile home complex was conducted without results and the FBI was called in to assist on the case. Over the course of the weekend, dogs, equestrian teams, ATVs and a helicopter from the California Highway Patrol were brought in to search for Sandra. A $22,000 reward was offered for information in the case, according to police.
Cantu's body was found 10 days later when an irrigation pond underwent a routine draining and a suitcase containing the body emerged. Cantu's autopsy revealed that she had been beaten and sexually assaulted with a foreign object before being smothered. Her toxicology results showed the presence of Alprazolam, also known as Xanax.
Upon remains having been found, police became suspicious of a number of odd coincidences regarding a neighbor of the family. Melissa Huckaby, a 28-year-old Sunday school teacher, lived in the same mobile home park as Cantu. Huckaby was born in Orange County, California. She is the granddaughter of Clifford Lawless, former pastor of Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy, California. Huckaby studied criminology at a community college before she and her daughter moved in with her grandparents at the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park. She told police that Cantu often played with her own daughter.
On the day Cantu disappeared, Huckaby sent a text to Cantu's mother that said: ""Tell the police that I had something stolen today around 4 p.m. I don't know if that makes a difference or not.""
The next day, a vigil was held for Sandra. Melissa approached police and FBI agents to report that she had found a note on the ground. They reported she was ""very agitated, crying, hyperventilating."" The note stated: ""Cantu locked in stolin (sic) suitcase. Thrown in water on (sic) Bacchetti Road and Whitehall Road. Witness.""
Prior to the discovery of the body, Huckaby wasn't a prime suspect because of her sex, according to lead investigator,
Eight-year-old Sandra Cantu lived in Tracy, California, at Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park with her mother, grandparents, and three older siblings. On March 27, 2009, she played at a friend's house after school until approximately 4:00 p.m., when she returned home. She left the caravan saying that she was going to play at another friend's house. When she did not return for dinner, the family called the police at 7:53 p.m.
Police located footage from a surveillance camera near the family home. The footage, which showed Sandra crossing the street in front of her home before moving out of frame, played on national news stations. A search of the mobile home complex was conducted without results and the FBI was called in to assist on the case. Over the course of the weekend, dogs, equestrian teams, ATVs and a helicopter from the California Highway Patrol were brought in to search for Sandra. A $22,000 reward was offered for information in the case, according to police.
Cantu's body was found 10 days later when an irrigation pond underwent a routine draining and a suitcase containing the body emerged. Cantu's autopsy revealed that she had been beaten and sexually assaulted with a foreign object before being smothered. Her toxicology results showed the presence of Alprazolam, also known as Xanax.
Upon remains having been found, police became suspicious of a number of odd coincidences regarding a neighbor of the family. Melissa Huckaby, a 28-year-old Sunday school teacher, lived in the same mobile home park as Cantu. Huckaby was born in Orange County, California. She is the granddaughter of Clifford Lawless, former pastor of Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy, California. Huckaby studied criminology at a community college before she and her daughter moved in with her grandparents at the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park. She told police that Cantu often played with her own daughter.
On the day Cantu disappeared, Huckaby sent a text to Cantu's mother that said: ""Tell the police that I had something stolen today around 4 p.m. I don't know if that makes a difference or not.""
The next day, a vigil was held for Sandra. Melissa approached police and FBI agents to report that she had found a note on the ground. They reported she was ""very agitated, crying, hyperventilating."" The note stated: ""Cantu locked in stolin (sic) suitcase. Thrown in water on (sic) Bacchetti Road and Whitehall Road. Witness.""
Prior to the discovery of the body, Huckaby wasn't a prime suspect because of her sex, according to lead investigator,