Tracy, CA– Adding yet again to the horror of the senseless rape and murder of 8 year old Sandra Cantu, as reported originally in Tracy Press, Melissa Huckaby was accused of drugging and removing a 7 year old little girl from the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park in January.

Could the death of doe-eyed beauty Sandra Cantu been prevented?

According to Police logs, the child was with Melissa Huckaby, as identified initially as the owner of a Purple Kia Suv, from 1:30 to approximately 5:30PM on Saturday January 17, 2009.

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Tracy, CA- As we all watched the horrific events leading up to the finding of Sandra Cantu’s remains in a suitcase in an irrigation pond, there was a collective feeling of “There has to be more”.  When murder and rape suspect Melissa Huckaby, 28, was arrested  and we watched her appearance in court, the confusion was palpable. 

Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman stated the Tracy PD is getting hundreds of calls per day from the public emphatically declaring there is no way she acted alone in the molestation, rape and murder of this beautiful child we last saw skipping past her home. The fact that Tracy PD admits they do not have a motive for this crime, and can’t begin to speculate on one, leaves most of us struggling to accept or discount, in some cases both, the senseless scenario of a woman without a violent past viciously raping and murdering an innocent little girl.

Melissa Huckaby’s family and friends burst onto the scene immediately upon her arrest to proclaim other than mild depression, she had no psychological markers to indicate she was capable of such an atrocity.  Joni Lawless Hughes , Huckaby’s aunt, went as far as to say this was completely out of character and they could not and did not believe she committed the crimes she is accused of.  As is usually the case fairly quickly after a crime of this nature, friends and known associates of Melissa Huckaby are telling a very different story.

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 Allow me to introduce you to the luckiest little girl in the world this morning. I will not report her name  as she is 9. Her name is being witheld as a minor; let’s refer to her as “Lucky ” .  I am reporting on Lucky’s story in lieu of writing about the high profile cases that attract thousands to this site every day. Why?  Because I would be thrilled to never bring you another story about a missing child found in a suitcase or garbage bag, etc. I read this and thought; Maybe I am going about this all wrong. Maybe the fact that these children are splashed all over the news, every HLN program and every True Crime blog isn’t enough to give some the wake up call they need to act for our childrens protection.

Maybe the message needs to be about the one that got away for some of us to see our own children at risk. You tell me.

Orlando, FL- “Lucky”, 9, was playing with friends last evening in her neighborhood in the vicinity of S.Goldenrod and Pershing Avenue.  It was a mild evening in Orlando and the children were enjoying a game of hide and seek.  Keeping a close watch on the activities apparently, was neighbor Marcus Younge. 

Younge 23, came out of nowhere, grabbed Lucky by the waist and attempted to pick her up according to the child’s statement to Investigators. She was able to break free from Younge’s grasp and fled home to her parents as she had been taught.  While she was running, she looked back to see if she was being chased by her boogey- man- in- real- life, who was fleeing as well;  in the opposite direction. (more…)

Tracy, CA-  This morning, Family and Friends of murdered 8 year old, Sandra Cantu, gathered for a private funeral service.

An invitation only funeral procession, and memorial service for Sandra’s family, classmates, and select Tracy Police Department Officials was held today at Fry Memorial Chapel. There were approximately 1000 in attendance.

Sandra’s aunt, Angie Chavez, read a poem written by the bubbly, doe-eyed princess we all saw for the last time skipping down her street. Sandra’s classmates were then invited to say goodbye to her at her casket.

The funeral proceeded to Sandra’s final resting place, The Tracy Mausoleum.

Tomorrow afternoon, a public memorial which is expected to draw thousands,  will be held in Sandra’s honor.  The public service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday at the West High School gym, 1775 W. Lowell Ave. While the facilities will accomodate almost 8000 guests, there is only parking for 500.  Several shuttles have been contracted for the event and is expected to stave off the parking issue.

The Editor, Readers, and staff of Blink on Crime wish to offer our prayers and condolences to Sandra’s friends and family.

 AND, to us.  We never got the opportunity to meet this special young lady; but we love her and seek justice on her behalf  regardless.

Tracy, CA- One day after Melissa Huckaby’s arraignment in San Joaquin County court on murder, kidnapping, rape and molestation charges, new search warrants are issued and troubling new information is surfacing. Yesterday afternoon two additional warrants were served in the case against Huckaby; one at Clover Baptist Church, and the other at the home of Connie and Lane Lawless where the defendant lived.

As previously brought to you exclusively by Blink on Crime, it has now been officially confirmed that Melissa Huckaby was hospitalized for a suicide attempt immediately after Sandra Cantu was found. Huckaby, in an attempt to end her life, swallowed three Xacto blades. What is not known, is how she got there. Did she present herself after swallowing them? Did she tell her grandparents? We do know for certain that she did not call an ambulance. The treatment of ingested razor blades varies greatly based on when they are presented and where they are in the digestive cycle.  Sources within the investigation have also confirmed this is not the first time Huckaby has attempted suicide, or the second.  Blink on Crime has also learned that Melissa Huckaby may be on disability benefits for a psychologial condition, receiving $600 per month.

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Tracy, CA- Blink on Crime has confirmed there is a solid link to the Clover Baptist Church and the black suitcase Sandra Cantu was found in Monday afternoon.  According to a member of the Clover Baptist Church, Fred Williams, a female congregation member reported the bag stolen the day Sandra was last seen: 

“There’s not one member there that would have anything to do with anything like that kind of situation,” Williams said. “More people should come to church and hang out with him because they would find out what a fun loving kind of guy that he is,” Williams said.

“That suitcase was to go to the church for a rummage sale with some stuff in it and the person put it somewhere, either in the back of a car somewhere. But anyway, when she came back out the suitcase was gone,” Williams said.

Williams said that the mysterious rolling black suitcase Cantu was found in, was reported stolen to Tracy Police Department.  Not True.

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