A Pittsylvania County man, Ruperto Escalante, appeared in court on Thursday to face several charges, including first-degree murder, in connection with the disappearance and murder of his wife, Soledad Najera.
The case has been ongoing since 2016, when Najera was last seen alive.
According to investigators, Escalante initially told authorities that his wife had left him for another man, and as a result, no missing person report was filed.
However, in 2022, Najera's sister from Colorado contacted the Sheriff's Office to inquire about the status of her sister's missing person investigation, prompting an investigation into Najera's disappearance.
During the court proceedings, investigators testified that Escalante had admitted to assisting a man named Pedro in duct-taping Najera's hands and eyes before placing her in a truck. Escalante allegedly wanted his wife to confess to infidelity.
However, he claimed that he did not accompany Pedro and Najera, and was later informed by Pedro that something had gone wrong, and Najera had been struck in the head with a pickaxe.
Despite extensive searches, authorities have yet to locate Najera's body.
Investigators believe that her remains may be located on the Oak Hill Southern Megasite at Berry Hill, approximately 15 miles from her home.
This location was identified after Escalante reportedly drove investigators to the area and indicated that he believed her body was there.
A four-day search of the area has yielded no results, and the search continues.
Escalante's case is set to proceed to a grand jury, although a date has not yet been scheduled.
Authorities remain committed to locating Najera's body and bringing closure to her family as the investigation unfolds.
The community remains on high alert as the search for Najera's remains continues, and the case against Escalante moves forward.