A man from Washington state has been charged with murder after his girlfriend was discovered deceased in a river. The victim’s mother has accused him of a disturbing pattern of abuse, claiming that he had once set a timer to beat her repeatedly in the weeks leading up to her disappearance.
Juan Manuel Delgado Jr., 42, faces second-degree murder charges in connection with the death of 37-year-old Krista Joy Hunt, as reported by the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office.
Indictment documents were submitted to prosecutors on March 19.
Hunt’s mother stated that, just weeks before her daughter vanished, Krista confided about ongoing violence. According to her mother, Pamela Hunt, “She actually had a broken leg. She told me he stomped on her feet and chest. At one point, he said he was going to set a timer to hit her every 15 minutes.”
Authorities have not officially verified these claims.
Krista was reported missing on February 1, having last been seen days earlier in the rural area of Concrete. The Sheriff’s Office shared a missing persons flyer regarding her case.
The situation worsened on March 12, when deputies found a body in the Skagit River, near milepost 90. The coroner later confirmed the deceased was Hunt.
While the exact cause and manner of death remain undetermined, the Skagit County Coroner’s Office continues to investigate the case.
Previous records indicated Hunt had suffered severe injuries, including broken necks, jaws, and ribs.
Investigators noted that Delgado and Hunt were in a relationship, and records show he was already in Skagit County Jail for a separate matter when the murder charge was added.
Delgado had faced prior charges for possession of explosives, illegal firearm possession, and driving under the influence, as per jail records.
Authorities discovered potential evidence of violence in Delgado’s truck, such as hair and blood clots believed to belong to Hunt.
Krista was last seen around January 25 after the couple’s truck ran out of gas near a local restaurant. Her mother mentioned that Hunt exited the vehicle and drove away, and was never seen again.
Pamela Hunt has disputed the characterization of Delgado as Krista’s boyfriend, stating unequivocally in a social media post, “He was a moment in her life. He only inflicted unrelenting cruelty on her.”
In a GoFundMe post created during the search, Pamela recounted the extent of her daughter’s injuries from an earlier incident: “The next day, I took her to the hospital. She was covered in bruises, some new and others old, plus had been strangled. The doctors warned me she might not survive another incident.”
These accusations haven’t been substantiated by authorities.
Delgado reportedly told investigators on February 1 that he hadn’t heard from Hunt in five days and was concerned about retrieving their two dogs. He acknowledged issues in their relationship but claimed they were on good terms.
He also mentioned to a friend that Hunt might have been hit by a car.
Shortly after Hunt’s disappearance, Delgado attempted suicide but survived. He later expressed his feelings, saying, “I missed Krista,” according to reports.
Hunt’s family is mourning her loss deeply. Her brother shared his anguish, stating, “I can’t imagine what my mother is going through right now. He stole me and Krista’s 60-year relationship.”
Her mother also confirmed through Facebook that Krista’s body had been located, expressing gratitude towards the search teams and reflecting on the tragedy of her loss.
“We have found our daughter, Krista Joy Hunt,” she wrote, detailing that her daughter’s body was discovered on March 12. “We are very grateful to everyone involved in her search and recovery,” she added.
She addressed the accusations against Delgado, asserting, “He tried to hide his shame. You can’t hide the truth.”
In her post, she conveyed the emotional toll on the family, admitting they are now facing funeral expenses.
“The love and support from friends, family, and those I haven’t met has been overwhelming in the most beautiful way,” she said.
Additionally, she reflected on Krista’s character, mentioning how independent she was and lamenting that she was not the type to end up in an abusive relationship. “She was my best friend and my only daughter,” she stated.
Delgado is currently being held on a $1 million bail while the investigation continues.
Authorities have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the case.
