In a chilling turn of events, San Diego police have confirmed that a woman, identified as Melissa Soto, who was found dead alongside her husband, Johnny Soto, had died due to strangulation. The couple's disappearance had sparked a frantic search in the days leading up to Christmas. The bodies were discovered on Tuesday afternoon by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in a car at the Golden Acorn Casino, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

The investigation conducted by SDPD revealed that Johnny Soto had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, while Melissa Soto had been strangled to death. The tragic incident has left the community in shock, with friends, neighbors, and loved ones struggling to comprehend the heartbreaking outcome.

Melissa and Johnny Soto's eldest son, Vincent, recounted the events leading up to their disappearance. He stated that on that fateful night, his father had asked him to briefly step out of the house, saying that he and Melissa needed to talk. Vincent, unaware of the imminent tragedy, complied and left the premises. He later received a text message from his father, informing him that they had left and he could return home. However, as hours passed without any sign of his parents, Vincent became increasingly concerned. The following morning, he and his siblings contacted the police and reached out to their aunt Christina Sandoval for support.

According to Sandoval, the couple had left their home without taking any personal belongings, leaving behind all of their clothes, Melissa's phone, wallet, and keys. Additionally, Johnny's cellphone had been turned off approximately 15 to 20 minutes after their departure.

Relatives of Melissa and Johnny Soto revealed to NBC 7 that their marriage had faced significant challenges, resulting in their separation in July after more than two decades together. The couple's troubled relationship had been known among their close circle, shedding light on the potential motives behind this tragic incident.

Surveillance footage obtained from neighbors appears to capture the couple's last known moments. At 8:51 p.m., a car believed to be Melissa's is seen entering the Soto home's driveway, with a man emerging from the driver's seat. The same car is observed leaving the driveway at 10:19 p.m. and returning in reverse shortly afterward. Another neighbor's footage shows the garage door and car trunk opening six minutes later, with Johnny allegedly seen on the video. However, nothing of significance was found in the trunk during the police investigation.

Raymond Arzola, the neighbor who witnessed the events on his surveillance camera, reported that Johnny got back into his silver Toyota Tacoma at 10:33 p.m. and drove away. Notably, there was no sighting of Melissa in Arzola's footage, leaving her whereabouts unknown.

As the investigation into this heartbreaking incident continues, the San Diego community is left mourning the loss of Melissa Soto, whose life was tragically cut short. The authorities will undoubtedly delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding this devastating event, shedding light on the factors that contributed to the couple's untimely demise.