Father, son implicated in Tahoe murder

Tuesday, March 28, 2000 | 11:43 a.m.

Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini said today that Thomas Soria Sr., 39, was booked Monday on a felony sexual assault charge stemming from an October 1999 incident in Stateline.

Pierini said the complaint alleges Thomas Soria Jr., 19, brought the 15-year-old into the Sorias' apartment and with his father convinced the girl Soria Sr. "would die if she refused to have sex with him."

Thomas Soria Jr. also was charged in the case of the 15-year-old, for aiding and abetting his father.

The son is in jail for kidnapping and killing Krystal Steadman, 9, who disappeared March 9 from a parking lot where she had been playing. Her nude body was found the next day, dumped down a slope off U.S. 50 near Carson City.

Regarding Soria Sr. and the Steadman murder, Pierini said, "We are now considering him as a suspect" in that case.

Authorities said Steadman's clothing was found late Monday, several miles from where her body was found. Pathology tests to determine whether she was sexually assaulted won't be completed until later this week.

Thomas Soria Jr. would face additional charges if the tests show Steadman was raped.

Authorities said the girl had been seen standing on the running board of Soria's vehicle outside an apartment where her mother, from nearby South Lake Tahoe, Calif., was visiting a friend.

Family members said the girl had been checking in regularly with her mother, who had told her to stay out only a few more minutes. When her daughter didn't return, the mother looked for her - even going to Soria's apartment. According to police reports, Soria told her he didn't know where the girl was.

Soria Jr. was hired seven months ago to work at a satellite branch of the Lake Tahoe Boys and Girls Club. He passed a background check and had no previous criminal record other than a bad check charge.

The Sorias moved to Tahoe from the Sacramento area in January 1999, and Pierini said his officers "are investigating the possibility that other sexual assaults may have occurred in Sacramento and Nevada."