The Trial of Melissa Huckaby

On March 27, 2009, 8-year-old Sandra Cantu disappeared from the mobile home park where she lived in Tracy, California. She was last seen on a video surveillance tape skipping toward her best friend's home in the same mobile home park. Her body was found 10 days later stuffed in a suitcase in an irrigation pond a few miles away.

Recent Developments

Huckaby Gets Life for Sandra Cantu's Murder
Jan 14, 2010
A former Sunday School teacher asked for forgiveness, but offered no clue to her motives, as she was sentenced to life for the kidnapping and murder of her daughter's 8-year-old playmate. Melissa Huckaby will not have the possibility to seek parole in the case of Sandra Cantu.

Previous Developments

Huckaby Pleads Guilty to Sandra Cantu Murder
May 10, 2010
A California woman entered a surprise guilty plea today to the murder of an 8-year-old girl who was her daughter's playmate. Melissa Huckaby had been accused of kidnapping, raping and killing Sandra Cantu then putting her body in a suitcase and throwing it into an irrigation pond.

Woman Indicted in Rape, Death of 8-Year-Old
Aug. 17, 2009
A California woman has been indicted for the kidnapping, rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl who was a playmate of her own daughter. Melissa Huckaby has been charged with murder with the special circumstances of rape, kidnapping and lewd or lascivious conduct with a child under 14.

Woman Charged With Rape in Sandra Cantu Case
April 14, 2009
Prosecutors claim that a female California Sunday school teacher and mother of a 5-year-old daughter kidnapped, raped and murdered 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, her daughter's friend. Melissa Huckaby, 28, appeared in court Tuesday to hear the charges against her.

Town Shocked by Arrest in Sandra Cantu Case
April 11, 2009
The mother of little Sandra Cantu's best friend, a Sunday school teacher and the granddaughter of a local pastor has been arrested in connection with the death of the 8-year-old girl. The news sent shockwaves through the Tracy, California community and puzzled even Melissa Huckaby's own family members.

Missing Girl's Body Found in Suitcase
April 6, 2009
Authorities believe they are closing in on a suspect hours after the body of a missing 8-year-old California girl was found in a suitcase in a retention pond near the trailer park where she lived. Sandra Cantu had been missing for 10 days from her Tracy, California home.