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Pastor's granddaughter arrested in Sandra Cantu slaying
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | April 11, 2009 | Henry K. Lee

Posted on 04/11/2009 8:14:30 AM PDT by Lorianne

A Sunday school teacher was booked early today on suspicion of murder and kidnapping in the slaying of 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 after she drove to the Tracy Police Department to be interviewed. She was booked at 3:25 a.m. today at San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp, where she is being held without bail.

"She revealed enough information that we had probable cause to arrest her for both kidnapping and murder," Tracy police Sgt. Tony Sheneman told reporters. During her interview, "she was very relaxed for a bit, then she became very emotional, and then she became relaxed again, and then became resigned to what was happening," Sheneman said.

Huckaby is the granddaughter of a pastor who lives at the mobile home park. The suspect had claimed that a suitcase belonging to her had disappeared on March 27, the same day Sandra disappeared.

Connie Lawless has said that they welcomed the police scrutiny and that investigators were probably interested in them because Sandra played with their 5-year-old great-granddaughter. Connie Lawless was elected to San Joaquin Valley's Republican Central Committee in 2006 and lost a re-election bid two years later, according to the county registrar of voters.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: pastor; sundayschool; teacher
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New twist to the story! The grandmother is a Republican!
1 posted on 04/11/2009 8:14:30 AM PDT by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne

Covering up for grandpa?


2 posted on 04/11/2009 8:15:59 AM PDT by Carley (President Obama Dropped a MOAB on America)
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To: Lorianne
Unusual but not unheard of to have a woman perp.


3 posted on 04/11/2009 8:19:51 AM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Lorianne
New twist to the story! The grandmother is a Republican!

I think Charles Manson's illegitimate father voted for FDR....THREE TIMES!

4 posted on 04/11/2009 8:20:31 AM PDT by Zevonismymuse
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To: Lorianne

Interesting, especially considering how loathe the press is to reveal Democratic ties, even elected Dems, while noting this former member of the County Republican Party Committee. No bias here, nuh uh.


5 posted on 04/11/2009 8:22:36 AM PDT by caseinpoint (Don't get thickly involved in thin things)
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To: Drango

Did I miss the motive? Or; the spontaneous ‘why’ this happened? Sad, sad, sad for this child who no doubt, trusted her friend.


6 posted on 04/11/2009 8:25:34 AM PDT by cricket (Don't bow for me. . .Obama (our one 'sorry' President))
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To: cricket

Motive? Twisted is the only word I can think of. Whoever did this is twisted. I’m not sure there will be any motive other than twisted.


7 posted on 04/11/2009 8:28:28 AM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Lorianne

Obviously a RINO.


8 posted on 04/11/2009 8:33:30 AM PDT by FreeSouthernAmerican (All we ask is to be let alone----Jefferson Davis)
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To: Lorianne
I think the great-granddaughter was a friend of the victim.
9 posted on 04/11/2009 8:35:42 AM PDT by stayathomemom (Cat herder and empty nester)
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To: windcliff

ping


10 posted on 04/11/2009 8:54:12 AM PDT by stylecouncilor (The black man is keeping me down!)
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To: Drango
Unusual but not unheard of to have a woman perp.

Any thoughts on motive? Unsable individual? Drugs? Sexual predator?


11 posted on 04/11/2009 8:57:52 AM PDT by RedMonqey
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To: Lorianne

Whose grandmother is a Republican?

Key information is left out of this excerpt.

Such as, who is Connie Lawless and why was her family questioned in the case?

I think she is the wife of Pastor Lawless, who was questioned in the case. The church is right there in the immediate neighborhood, and the story does say that Sandra played with the Lawless’s great-grandaughter.

The Lawless’s grandaughter is charged with murder in the case.

Other than that connection, the grandaughter, Melissa Huckaby, is called “a Sunday School teacher”.

Would that be Sandra’s Sunday School teacher? Either present or former?

Connie Lawless is not suspected or charged with anything.

I don’t see why it matters what her politics are, in any case.

Even if the paper put that in the story with ill intent, they can’t succeed in making Republicans look bad by doing so, since the person they wrote it about isn’t the perp.


12 posted on 04/11/2009 8:58:45 AM PDT by txrangerette (Just say "no" to the Obama Cult.)
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To: RedMonqey

I’m guessing all three are possible.

(I presume the word is “unstable” but the “t” was left out)

But if I had to put money down on only one of the three, I would pick “sexual predator”.


13 posted on 04/11/2009 9:02:45 AM PDT by txrangerette (Just say "no" to the Obama Cult.)
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To: Lorianne
A Sunday school teacher was booked early today on suspicion of murder and kidnapping in the slaying of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, whose body was found in a suitcase in an irrigation pond.

Wow. Highly unusual. Or maybe the cops took a few isolated facts and drew an connection where none existed.

I am reminded of the McMartin (sp) daycare case where satanic sexual abuse was said to happen but later learned children were "coached" to remember things that never happened.

A whole family was suspected and a few were convicted but later cleared. IIRC.
14 posted on 04/11/2009 9:02:47 AM PDT by RedMonqey
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To: txrangerette
Whose grandmother is a Republican?

The suspect's grandmother.

15 posted on 04/11/2009 9:05:09 AM PDT by Lorianne
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To: FreeSouthernAmerican

Probably Pro-Abortion alss. No different to kill a unborn than an eight year old. No difference what so ever. There are tons of murdering democrats and rinos. we even have baby killers pretending to be republicans in office.

part of the pro-death culture. at least this girl got 8 years out in the world. Most babies murdered by liberals never get that chance. No differance what so ever.


16 posted on 04/11/2009 9:12:23 AM PDT by dhm914
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To: RedMonqey

My guess is sexual predator. It is not unheard of to have a woman child molester. I think that it is just not reported as often.


17 posted on 04/11/2009 9:19:26 AM PDT by Eva (union motto - Aim for mediocrity, it's only fair.)
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To: Lorianne

Thanks I got it.

Was asking a rhetorical question for the benefit of those who might not have connected all the dots right away.

I heard on tv the pastor’s name was Lawless so I put it together.

Some folks glance so quickly at stories and if they’re complicated or not tightly written get wrong impressions.

I hope everyone is clear that the alleged perp’s grandmother isn’t implicated in any way.

Especially since she was identified as a Republican.

(Which the media had absolutely no business doing...)


18 posted on 04/11/2009 9:24:27 AM PDT by txrangerette (Just say "no" to the Obama Cult.)
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To: txrangerette
Whose grandmother is a Republican?

Probably owns a killer SUV, too.

< /sarc >

19 posted on 04/11/2009 9:27:31 AM PDT by Publius6961 (Change is not a plan; Hope is not a strategy.)
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To: RedMonqey

When I googled this case I got several versions of the story.

Some mentioned that the alleged perp admitted in her interview with cops that the child had visited in her home right before she disappeared.

And in regard to the suitcase (with remains of Sandra) said it was hers but said someone must have taken it.

I have heard on tv that witnesses in the area of the pond have described a suspicious vehicle they saw as a beige Silverado.

I’m sure the cops are being careful to fit the pieces properly.

Also heard on tv that searches have been done where Sandra visited, with a shed being of particular interest.

In addition, one of the stories I read said this woman has been in the hospital for a few days following Sandra’s disappearance, with the cause given as internal injuries or bleeding or some such.

If true, the cops know all about that, too.

Something is weird, yes.

But I’m more inclined to think it rests with the alleged perp than with the police investigation.


20 posted on 04/11/2009 9:38:03 AM PDT by txrangerette (Just say "no" to the Obama Cult.)
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