A tragic stabbing in Modesto, California, claimed the lives of three members of the same family on May 28, 2026. Victims included 54-year-old Maria Sylvia Nunez-Villalobos, her daughter Fabiola Gonzalez-Nunez, 23, and Gonzalez-Nunez’s 2-week-old baby, Mateo Gonzalez.
Police Response and Arrest
Officers responded just after 9:20 a.m. to a Modesto home where they found Gonzalez-Nunez with multiple stab wounds. Nunez-Villalobos and the infant were also found suffering from stab wounds. Both adults were pronounced dead at the scene, while the baby later died at a hospital.
Inside the home, police discovered a 3-year-old child unharmed, who was hospitalized for evaluation and placed in the custody of Child Protective Services (CPS).
Authorities arrested 28-year-old Joaquin Escoto, who is believed to have been in a relationship with Gonzalez-Nunez. Escoto was located hiding in a nearby residence and taken into custody without incident. He faces three counts of murder, special circumstance enhancements, and use of a deadly weapon, as well as an outstanding warrant from a prior DUI case.
Investigation Details
Investigators believe Escoto lived with the three victims. The exact nature of his relationship with Gonzalez-Nunez is under review. The investigation into the triple homicide is ongoing. Modesto Police Department (MPD) described the loss of three lives, including that of an infant, as “a heartbreaking tragedy.”
Family Response
The victims’ families set up a GoFundMe to honor the three lives lost. Nunez-Villalobos was remembered as a “cherished and loving grandmother,” while Gonzalez-Nunez was described as “a devoted mother and daughter whose love for her children was endless.”
Mateo Gonzalez was remembered as “an innocent child whose life was taken far too soon,” with the fundraiser noting that his smile and innocence brought happiness to everyone around him.
