High Tech High senior Priscilla Pimienta, 17, her younger sister Emily, 9, and her father Alfredo, 44, were found dead in the backyard swimming pool of their home on Parkcreek Court on May24. Priscilla’s mother, Georgina, 38, was found dead in a bathtub inside the home. According to police reports, a family relative came to the house early on Tuesday morning to discuss business, as requested by Priscilla’s father. There, the relative saw two bodies in the backyard swimming pool before calling authorities. Alfredo’s body was later found at the bottom of the pool weighted down by bricks. Despite resuscitative efforts on both Alfredo and Emily, the entire family was pronounced dead by 7:15 a.m., according to authorities Homicide Unit detectives found evidence that the family’s death was the result of a murder-suicide. No other suspects are under investigation, police officials said. According to police Capt. Jim Collins, notes apparently left by each of the parents were found inside the home that provided details about how they wanted their affairs to be handled — even detailing which clothes they wanted their daughters to wear when they were to be buried. Autopsies were performed on Wednesday by the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office, which revealed that Alfredo was the last of his family members to die. Although the initial cause of death was believed to be drowning, the final determination will remain inconclusive until toxicology reports are completed, which may take up to eight weeks or more, police said. A motive has not been conclusively determined, but police investigators said they discovered that Alfredo’s towing business, Lightning Towing and Transport, was losing money and that the family had accrued extensive credit card debt. Georgina’s Facebook web page also indicated that the family had previously lost a son, Isaiah, although it is not clear when or how the young boy died. Following the news of her death, more than 100 of Priscilla’s friends and classmates held a candlelight vigil at Mariner’s Point in Mission Beach on May 24. The teenagers at the gathering said they were stunned by the death of their classmate and friend. “When I heard the news about what happened, I couldn’t believe that anyone would do such a thing,” said High Tech High classmate Aowei Chenqi, adding that he was filled with “unbearable sadness and anger.” Priscilla was described by friends as being loyal, honest and kind. “She would always make sure I had a smile on me,” said Tania Lopez, a close friend of Priscilla’s. “One time I called her and told her, ‘I need my best friend with me.’ In five minutes, she was driving to my house, and as soon as she came, I felt so much better,” Lopez said. Priscilla had been making plans with friends to rent a limo for her senior prom on the Saturday following her death — May 28 — and attend a party afterwards. She was also set to graduate from High Tech High on June 25 and attend Sonoma State University to study biology starting in the fall, friends said. “Her life was about to start and to have this happen out of nowhere, it kind of just really hits hard to anyone at our school,” said High Tech High classmate Marlena Fine. Lopez agreed. “She was a unique person. She never liked to wear shoes. She was more like a simple girl who didn’t care what other people thought about her. I loved the way she was and always will,” said Lopez. To honor Priscilla’s memory, her friends decided attend their prom on Saturday night without shoes — just as Priscilla would have done. High Tech High has set up the Prissy and Emily Memorial Fund to help relatives with funeral costs. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank branch or mailed directly to High Tech High, located at 2861 Womble Road, San Diego, CA 92106. Make checks payable to High Tech High, c/o Priscilla and Emily. No memorial services are scheduled at this time.
