California Homicide: Three generations of a family stabbed to death in Modesto home, cops arrest suspect; here’s what we know

California Crime News: A spine‑chilling triple homicide surfaced in California, where three generations of the same family were stabbed to death inside a Modesto home. According to the Modesto Police Department (MPD), the fatal attack occurred on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The victims, identified as Silvia Nuñez mother of Fabiola Gonzalez who was the mom of the infant Mateo Gonzalez, according to GoFundMe.

The Modesto Police Department, in a post on Facebook, also revealed the identities of the grandmother and the mother of the two week infant however the name of the baby was not revealed. “The victims have been identified as Fabiola Gonzalez-Nunez (23), Maria Sylvia Nunez-Villalobos (54), and a two-week-old infant. The infant’s name will not be released. Fabiola Gonzalez-Nunez was the mother of the infant, and Maria Sylvia Nunez-Villalobos was Fabiola’s mother,” police said in the statement.

Officers arrived at the residence shortly after 9:20 a.m. local time and discovered the young mother suffering from “multiple stab wounds.” A further search of the home led them to Maria Sylvia Nunez‑Villalobos and the infant, both of whom were also found with apparent stab injuries, PEOPLE reported, citing authorities.

Suspect identified

The suspect was identified as Joaquin Escoto. According to police, “the victims and the suspect, Joaquin Escoto, resided together in the home. Investigators further believe Escoto was involved in a relationship with Fabiola Gonzalez-Nunez, although the exact nature of their relationship remains under investigation.”

Infant’s grandmother and mother died on the scene

The mother and grandmother were pronounced dead at the scene. The infant was rushed to a hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries later that day, according to police.

Police also discovered a three‑year‑old child who was “uninjured.” The toddler was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and later placed in the custody of Child Protective Services (CPS). Authorities believe the child is the son of Fabiola Gonzalez‑Nunez and Joaquin Escoto.

How was the stabbing suspect arrested

Escoto, 28, was arrested on the day of the stabbing with the assistance of SWAT officers and hostage negotiation specialists. Authorities said they “established a perimeter” shortly after responding to the incident, believing Escoto remained in the area, and nearby schools were shut down as a precautionary measure.

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The man “was later located hiding inside a nearby residence and taken into custody without incident,” according to Modesto police, as quoted by PEOPLE. “Following his arrest, Escoto was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on three counts of murder, special circumstance enhancements, using a deadly weapon, and an outstanding Modesto Police Department warrant related to a prior DUI case,” Modesto Police Department said in a Facebook post.

It remains unclear whether Escoto has retained legal counsel to speak on his behalf. Police confirmed that the investigation into the triple homicide is still ongoing.