Moreno Valley: Man accused of killing mother, grandmother of twin sons after custody swap, authorities say

MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) — The man accused of murdering the mother and grandmother of his two young sons stood before a judge in downtown Riverside on Wednesday afternoon.

Salvador Velasquez, 39, is accused of murdering the boys’ mother, 36-year-old Esmeralda Casillas, and their grandmother, 68-year-old Ofelia Casillas.

The incident happened just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 18 near the intersection of Eucalyptus Avenue and Old Highway 215 in the Moreno Valley.

The location was apparently the agreed halfway point for a custody swap between the twins, who are both 7 years old.

Velasquez lives in Coachella, and the boys’ mother lived in El Cajon.

“Shortly after this custody exchange, the suspect returned to the victim’s vehicle and shot and killed the victim, who is the birth mother … and the maternal grandmother,” said Sgt. Brandi Swan of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Swan said the two boys were present at the time of the shooting.

Within days, detectives found Velasquez at his Coachella home with the two children. Velasquez was taken into custody and the children were reportedly safe.

“Our hearts go out to the families of these two victims who have passed away,” Swan said. “And also the boys who will be without a mother and grandmother and possibly without a father if he is found guilty.”

The first-degree murder charge continued through Tuesday, December 6.

Velasquez remains in prison without bail.