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Sunday School Teacher Arrested in Sandra Cantu Murder

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AOL: A Sunday school teacher was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, whose body was found in a suitcase in an irrigation pond.

Melissa Huckaby, 28, was arrested at 11:55 p.m. Friday, about five hours after she drove herself to the local police station at the request of officers, said police Sgt. Tony Sheneman.

"She gave enough information to us during the course of the interview that probable cause was there to her," said Sheneman. No other arrests were made.

Sandra disappeared on March 27 and hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement officials turned out to search for her. Pictures of the girl with dark brown eyes and light brown hair were posted all over Tracy, a city of 78,000 people about 60 miles east of San Francisco.

On April 6, farmworkers draining an irrigation pond found the suitcase.

The slain girl's aunt, Angie Chavez, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press early Saturday that she was happy to learn of the arrest.

"I want to know why she did it, if she did it," Chavez said.

Huckaby had previously told The Tracy Press that Sandra visited her home on the day of her disappearance to play with her 5-year-old daughter. But Huckaby said she'd turned Sandra away because her daughter needed to pick up her toys and Sandra went to another friend's home. Huckaby also said she had left her suitcase in the driveway that day, and that it was missing.

The Tracy Press reported that Huckaby was released Thursday from Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, where she spent several days in intensive care for what she described as "internal bleeding."

Huckaby is a granddaughter of Pastor Clifford Lawless, whose Clover Road Baptist Church was the subject of a police search. Huckaby taught Sunday school at the church and lived with Lawless in the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park that also was Sandra's home.

Huckaby's family had been questioned at length during the investigation, and their home and vehicles had been searched, Sheneman said.

Huckaby was scheduled to appear in court on April 17 to check in with a county mental health program as part of a three-year probation sentence for a petty theft she pleaded no contest to. In an interview with the newspaper on Friday, Huckaby said someone else by the same name was facing charges for the attempted November theft from Target.


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7 comments so far | Post a comment now
Antony April 11, 2009, 9:18 AM

Horror-Melissa Huckaby, a 28 year old Sunday school teacher has been arrested in the murder of 8 year old Sandra Cantu!!!
Click on the linkschool teacher has been arrested

Deana April 11, 2009, 9:41 AM

I was horrified when I woke up to this news this morning. Worse, according to the statements Huckaby has been making the last several days, it appears she asked Sandra’s older sister Miranda to babysit for her while she was out killing Sandra. And she put the body into a suitcase that she used to carry Sunday school supplies to church. Sickening beyond belief.

Gigohead  April 11, 2009, 10:59 AM

I have a feeling she did not do this alone. There has been suspicion on this family since before they found Sandra. There was gloves hidden under the house. I am so relieved that they found this crazy killer. Why would she do this?

robyn April 11, 2009, 11:44 AM

i cryed when i found out that sandra was dead. as i watched the video of her skipping like such a happy normal litttle girl i was watching my daughter they look alike in some ways. i was devastated the night i found out for sandra and her parents. i believe justice will be found for sandra cantu. your californias little girl

yanelli April 11, 2009, 2:46 PM

I was really shocked when i found out about this. R.I.P Sandra Cantu. Never in my life have i heard a lady kill a innocent little girl going to her friends. That is a unforgiven thing that she has done.

The Meanest Mom April 11, 2009, 8:18 PM

too many casey anthonys, bad! we should stop people from becoming casey anthonys.

amey April 11, 2009, 11:22 PM

Crimes against children don’t sit well with prison imates. Now a woman did this !! It will be way worse for her. Rest in piece Sandra Cantu.


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