Two people have been arrested as suspects in the murder of a California teenager left to die on the side of a road.
Daniel Gross, 19, and Melissa Leonardo, 25, both of Modesto, were arrested on Feb. 13 over the murder of Lizette Andrea Cuesta, 19.
Cuesta named her killers in her dying declaration to first responders, leading officers to search the home.
“The evidence and Lizette’s statements to us helped make this investigation unfold very rapidly.”
“She survived for quite a bit of time against tremendous odds and was left there for dead,” Kelly told the Bee.
Richard Loadholt and a friend found her at around 2 a.m. He told KRON4 that he was driving when he saw her.
He and the friend got out and tried to comfort her as they waited for help to arrive.
One of Cuesta’s friends told the Fox40 that Cuesta, Gross, and Leonardo were friends.
Montana Howland, who considers Leonardo his sister, added that jealousy could have been a factor in the killing, but they struggled to comprehend how anything could have led to such a deed.
“Daniel has always talked about if someone [expletive] him off bad enough he will kill them,” Howland said. “But Melissa is the only one with a car and she goes everywhere Daniel goes, so that’s probably the reason she got (dragged) into it.”
“We are raising money to help the family of Lizette in this very tragic and difficult time. Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated,” said a family friend.
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