Summary
Highlights
On April 20, 2018, in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, six members of the Caballero family were brutally murdered in a gruesome attack. Annalyn Caballero miraculously survived, waking up to find herself severely wounded and her family members deceased. She discovered her live-in partner, Sonny, and their child covered in blood, and then found her mother Leonila, brother Sergio, and younger siblings Joshua and Amy, all lifeless.
Annalyn, despite her severe injuries, bravely crawled out of the house to seek help, eventually losing consciousness at a neighbor's home. At 19 years old, she was the sole adult survivor of the massacre. Police responded to a report from a concerned citizen, finding Annalyn gravely wounded and six bodies drenched in blood with deep hack wounds, mostly to the neck, indicating they were attacked while asleep. Two small children, unharmed, were found crying at the scene.
The family had recently moved to San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, seeking to live together. Annalyn lived with her partner Sonny and their child, while Jennifer lived with her partner Jessie Tesoro and their child. The night before the massacre, the family had a gathering. Jennifer and Jessie were overheard arguing about a SIM card, but then seemingly reconciled. Yolly, another sister, left for Manila for work that night, unaware it would be the last time she saw her family alive.
Evidence pointed to an insider: no forced entry, a missing murder weapon, and bloodstained men's clothes soaking in the bathroom. The investigation quickly focused on Jessie Tesoro, Jennifer’s live-in partner. A tricycle driver, Eliecer Marcuevo, testified to driving Jessie away from the crime scene around 4 AM. Crucially, Annalyn, in her wounded state, repeatedly uttered Jessie’s name, further implicating him. Police launched a manhunt, circulating Jessie's photo, leading to his arrest in Tarlac City.
Upon arrest, Jessie Tesoro confessed to the crime and revealed where he had disposed of the murder weapon, a large bolo. He admitted to the ABS-CBN News team that deep-seated anger was his motive, specifically resentment towards his mother-in-law, Leonila, who wanted him to separate from Jennifer. He claimed he waited for everyone to sleep before attacking, deliberately sparing the two children, but regretting that Annalyn survived. Yolly revealed that their mother opposed Jennifer and Jessie’s relationship because they were first cousins.
Jessie Tesoro was charged with multiple counts of murder and frustrated murder. On July 13, 2018, the Gapan City Regional Trial Court found him guilty on six counts of murder, sentencing him to reclusion perpetua without parole. The devastating massacre left the victims' families in immense pain, seeking justice and hoping for healing, though the wounds of such a tragedy are permanent.