Man released on bail for allegedly raping his stepdaughter, kills her and then commits suicide

Juliano Santana, 49, was awaiting trial on charges that he repeatedly raped his 16-year-old stepdaughter. Prosecutors say he killed her last week before committing suicide.

A Massachusetts man who was arrested in 2021 on allegations that he repeatedly raped his teenage stepdaughter killed her while out on bail last week and then committed suicide, authorities said.

According to a press release from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, investigators believe 49-year-old Juliano Santana kidnapped his 16-year-old stepdaughter as she walked near her Acton, Massachusetts, home after school on May 30. He then fatally shot her before turning the gun on himself.

At around 4 p.m. that same day, officers arrived at a parking lot in front of the girl’s home and found Santana and the girl in his vehicle dead, apparently suffering from gunshot wounds, the press release said.

According to prosecutors, Santana was charged in September 2021 with six counts of aggravated rape of a child, and the teenager he killed was also the victim in the previous case. He was released after posting $30,000 bail, with the conditions that he be put on a GPS monitoring device and have no unsupervised contact with the teenager or anyone under 18.

The victim also obtained a restraining order against Santana, the prosecutor’s office said. The trial in this case was scheduled for July 29.

After learning of the kidnapping, police contacted Santana’s probation officer, who was able to determine his location using his GPS monitoring device, the press release said.

A GoFundMe campaign to help the victim’s family with funeral expenses identified her only as Christina. Authorities have not publicly released the victim’s name.

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“There are no proper words to express this tragedy, and there never will be,” wrote fundraiser organizer Natalia De. “We are deeply saddened to share the devastating news of the tragic and untimely death of our beloved Christina.”

De continued: “At just 16 years old, Christina’s life was taken from her family in an unimaginable act of violence at the hands of her stepfather. The whole community is devastated and we are all struggling with overwhelming grief and trauma.”

On the fundraising page, De Christina further described herself as someone who is “full of life,” excels in science, and hopes to go to college one day.

“Christina’s loss leaves a void that can never be filled,” De wrote.

Authorities said the investigation into the murder-suicide case is ongoing.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to Rainn.org.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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