Read and post your comment below (and yes, this is great news -- assuming the right person, the killer -- was arrested!) The motive? just old fashion cruelty?
Sunday School Teacher Arrested in Murder of 8-Year-Old Sandra Cantu
A Sunday school teacher, who was one of the last people to see 8-year-old Sandra Cantu alive, was arrested early Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping and killing the young girl, FOX San Francisco affiliate KTVU reported.
Melissa Huckaby, 28, was taken into custody at 1 a.m. Saturday after voluntarily going to police for questioning nearly five hours earlier.
"She gave enough information to us during the course of the interview that probable cause was there to arrest her," Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman said.
The slain girl's aunt, Angie Chavez, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press early Saturday that she was happy to learn of the arrest.
"I want to know why she did it, if she did it," Chavez said.
Huckaby previously told a local newspaper that Sandra visited her home March 27, the day she disappeared. Huckaby also said she had left her suitcase in the driveway that day, and that it was missing.
Huckaby said she told Sandra that her daughter had to clean her room and the little girl left to go to another unnamed friend s home.
Huckaby is the granddaughter of Pastor Clifford Lawless, whose Clover Road Baptist Church was the subject of a police search. Huckaby taught Sunday school at the church.
Sandra s body was found April 6 stuffed in a large, dark colored suitcase submerged in a Tracy irrigation pond.
Police had announced Friday a $32,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer of Cantu, last seen skipping down the street near her mobile home, in a Friday afternoon press conference.
Sandra was last seen March 27 on surveillance camera skipping away from the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park in Tracy, where she lived.
Police labeled her death a homicide. An autopsy is under way, but results haven't yet been released.
On Thursday, detectives went back to the mobile home park where the girl resided after finding an envelope reading: "From Sandra, to my killer."
"You've taken my life away from me, but I forgive you and God will judge you at some point," the note inside said.
Sheneman said the envelope was found near a tree where a memorial of flowers, stuffed animals and cards was set up at the trailer park several days ago.
Investigators believe the note was left between 4 and 4:30 a.m. Thursday, but after analyzing its contents, they don't believe it is connected to the investigation, according to the sergeant.
The 8-year-old's family broke their silence Wednesday for the first time since her body was found.
"We don't have any idea who could have done something this horrible to her," Cantu's aunt Angie Chavez said on the "Today" show.
On Thursday, the family issued a statement asking that no more items be left at Sandra's makeshift memorial because the sight is too painful for them. They asked instead for supporters' thoughts and prayers.
To date, police have served more than 15 search warrants in the case.
FOXNews.com's Catherine Donaldson-Evans and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Saturday after voluntarily going to police for questioning nearly five hours earlier.
