Murder of Sandra Cantu
Sandra Cantu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sandra Renee Cantu March 8, 2001 Tracy, California, U.S. |
| Died | March 27, 2009 (aged 8) Tracy, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Homicidal asphyxiation |
| Body discovered | San Joaquin County, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Tracy, California, U.S. |
| Known for | Murder victim |
| Parents |
|
Melissa Huckaby | |
|---|---|
| Born | Melissa Lawless February 23, 1981 |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Convictions | Kidnapping and murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment without parole |
Sandra Renee Cantu (March 8, 2001 – March 27, 2009) was an American girl who gained national attention after she disappeared from Tracy, California, on March 27, 2009. Her body was discovered ten days later inside a suitcase in a local irrigation pond. On April 10, police arrested a local woman, 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby (born February 23, 1981), and charged her with the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Cantu. Huckaby pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of Cantu and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 2010.