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Sunday, Apr. 12, 2009

Probe into slaying of Tracy girl is progressing, police say

Four days after the remains of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu were found in a black suitcase floating in an irrigation pond, Tracy residents said Friday they are anxious for her killer to be found.

Tracy police, who have been holding twice-daily news conferences this week, delayed a morning conference Friday until the afternoon, stirring rumors among locals and the media that information about her murder might be released.

But police spokesman Sgt. Tony Sheneman said he could not reveal any more information.

"The investigation is heading in the right direction," he said.

Cantu was last seen March 27 at the Orchard Estates mobile home park, where she lived with her mother and grandparents. Until Monday, when farmworkers draining an irrigation pond found the suitcase containing her body, hers was considered a missing persons case.

Sheneman said Friday that investigators will continue to serve search warrants in connection with the case, but declined to provide specifics. Investigators already have served at least 15 warrants – one of them at the Clover Road Baptist Church, down the street from the mobile home park.

Investigators returned to the church Friday afternoon and appeared to continue their search. The church's pastor, Lane Lawless, lives in the mobile home park where Cantu did and is among many people whom police have interviewed, Sheneman said.

The community of Tracy continues to be shaken by Sandra's death.

At Barista's on 10th Street, Carissa Mejia, who had stopped with her children for a quick lunch, said the homicide has caused her to alter her children's comings and goings. She doesn't allow her 5-year-old daughter to play in the front yard without supervision and she won't let her children walk to school anymore.

"I don't take my chances until I know the person's not out there," Mejia said.