Local

Triple homicide, county settlements and new local spots: The week in Modesto news

By Edited by Carlos Virgen based on original reporting by Bee journalists and summarized using AI.
A photo from the scene of a collision published in a court document as part of a lawsuit between the family of Saul Betancourt and Stanislaus County. Betancourt was killed when a Sheriff’s Office car driven by Deputy Eric Fulmer collided with Betancourt’s Chevy Camaro in January 2022.
A photo from the scene of a collision published in a court document as part of a lawsuit between the family of Saul Betancourt and Stanislaus County. Betancourt was killed when a Sheriff’s Office car driven by Deputy Eric Fulmer collided with Betancourt’s Chevy Camaro in January 2022. Reihl & Jimerson law firm

Stanislaus County saw a week of heartbreak, accountability and community openings, from a deadly family attack in Modesto to multimillion-dollar settlements over deputy conduct. Here’s a look at the top stories readers followed this week.

Here are key takeaways:

  • Three generations of a Modesto family — Silvia Nuñez, 54, her daughter Fabiola Gonzalez, 23, and baby Mateo Gonzalez — were killed in a stabbing attack Thursday morning near Orville Wright Elementary School, with police arresting 28-year-old Joaquin Escoto after a standoff, as detailed in coverage of the triple homicide.
  • A 34-foot custom-designed play structure with rope walls, climbing levels and swinging elements opened Easter weekend at Resendiz Family Fruit Barn in Hughson, built in 31 days after materials arrived from international suppliers in March.
  • Chicago native Muriel Askew opened Muriel’s Southern Comfort Food in Patterson on April 17, drawing a line wrapped around the building on opening day for soul food dishes named after family members like her mother Grace and husband Keith.
  • Stanislaus County will pay $7.1 million to settle a case involving former Deputy Eric Fulmer, who was driving about 121 mph in foggy conditions when he struck a Chevrolet Camaro in January 2022, killing 21-year-old Saul Bettancourt, with the county denying wrongdoing in the settlement.
  • The county also agreed to pay $5 million to the mother of Anthony Silva, 40, who was paralyzed after being “forcibly slammed” onto concrete by deputies while handcuffed at Riverbank’s Cheese and Wine Festival in October 2022 and died from his injuries nearly a year later.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content. Before publishing, Bee journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER