The holiday season turned into a nightmare for a Stockton family as 43-year-old Alicia Montejano and her 19-year-old son, Reuel Huerta, were found beaten to death inside an apartment on Belleview Avenue on December 23. Stockton police have identified 38-year-old Julio Valdez, Montejano’s boyfriend, as the suspect. He remains at large.
Family members are grappling with immense grief. Reuel’s father, Raul Huerta, described his son as a quiet, intelligent young man with a passion for computers. His sister, Marissa Vigil, remembered their mother as someone who brought joy to others, saying, "My mom… would put a smile on your face."
The tragedy was discovered by Vigil, who expressed the unbearable pain of finding her loved ones: "I couldn’t believe it. It felt like I was dying at the time."
Local churchgoers gathered at the scene to pray for peace, while the family pleaded for justice, calling on the community for help. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to Valdez’s arrest. Police say he has connections in Tracy, the Bay Area, southern California, and Mexico.
Those with information are urged to contact Stockton Crime Stoppers at 209-946-0600. The family has also set up a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses.
As they mourn, Vigil shared a heartbreaking reflection: "The pain gets harder and harder. We can't sleep, we can't eat, my head is not okay."
This article is a summary of the story, "A mom who made others smile and a quiet and loving son — Stockton police seek answers in killing," by Gabriel Porras, ABC10.
