Porterville Man Arrested for Killing Wife

PORTERVILLE – A man who allegedly shot his wife and then fled to Mexico over the weekend turned himself in to authorities yesterday.

Leonardo Nacoa

Leonardo Nacoa, 26, is accused of fatally shooting his wife, 25-year-old Krystal Garcia Nacoa, just after midnight on Sunday.

Authorities were called to the 900 block of West La Vida Avenue in Porterville for a report of a female who had been shot early Sunday morning. When they arrived, officers found Garcia Nacoa dead inside the residence. The couple’s three young children, all unharmed, were also found inside the home, according to authorities.

Leonardo Nacoa was not at the scene when officers arrived and they learned that he had fled the area just before 1 a.m. Witness statements and evidence found at the scene indicated that he was the one who shot his wife, police said.

Detectives searched numerous locations for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. They then tracked him down after getting his cell phone number. Detectives spoke to him and learned that he had crossed the border into Mexico. They were able to convince him to cross the border back into the United States and turn himself in to the Calexico Police Department Sunday afternoon.

“Having the suspect turn himself in without other violence is a best-case scenario,” said Dominic Barteau with the Porterville Police Department.

Nacoa has now been transported back into Tulare County. A motive for the killing has not yet been determined.

Read More:

ABC: Porterville Man Arrested After Wife Found Dead

Fresno Bee: Porterville Man Flees to Mexico, Then Turns Self After Allegedly Killing Wife