PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. — Ruperto Escalante, a local man from Pittsylvania County, appeared in court Thursday to face multiple charges, including first-degree murder, in connection with the long-unsolved disappearance and suspected murder of his wife, Soledad Najera.
Najera was last seen in 2016, and at the time, Escalante told authorities she had left him for another man. No missing person report was filed, leaving her disappearance unresolved for years. In 2022, a renewed push came from Najera’s sister in Colorado, who contacted the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, prompting a full investigation.
Investigators testified in court that Escalante admitted to helping a man named Pedro duct-tape Najera’s hands and eyes before placing her into a truck. He reportedly said he was trying to get her to confess to infidelity. Escalante claimed he did not go with Pedro and Najera afterward and was later told Najera had been fatally struck in the head with a pickaxe.
Despite Escalante guiding investigators to a suspected burial site—Oak Hill Southern Megasite at Berry Hill, roughly 15 miles from Najera’s home—no remains have been found. A four-day search in the area yielded no results, though authorities continue their efforts.
The case is now expected to proceed to a grand jury, though a date has not been set. Investigators remain committed to locating Najera’s remains and delivering justice for her family. Meanwhile, the local community continues to watch the case closely as new developments unfold.
