Family of four found dead at Skyline home

Originally published May 24, 2011 at 7:46 a.m., updated May 24, 2011 at 12:10 p.m.

John Gibbins

Four people were found dead from drowning at a house on the cul-de-sac of Parkcreek Court in North Bay Terraces on Tuesday. Three people were found in the swimming pool at the home and one in the bathtub inside. Homicide detectives are investigating.

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SAN DIEGO — A family of four, including two daughters reportedly ages 17 and 7, were found dead early Tuesday in a pool and bathtub at their Skyline home, where San Diego homicide detectives are investigating.
Authorities have not released the names of the family, but a relative identified the couple as Alfredo and Georgina Pimienta. Several High Tech High School seniors who came to the Parkcreek Court scene identified the girls as Priscilla, 17, and Emily, 7.
Priscilla was to graduate from High Tech High school on June 25, said fellow senior Alex Jasmund, 17.
Another friend, Cherish Buntson, 17, said she and Priscilla were looking forward to the prom and going to college in the fall. She said Priscilla was to attend Sonoma State University and study biology.
“There is no one like her,” said Jasmund, who was in tears as he spoke of the girl. “She’s nice, lovable. How could this happen? They didn’t deserve this.”
A relative went to the home on a cul-de-sac off Parkbrook Street “to discuss business” with the husband, homicide Lt. Ernie Herbert said.
He said the relative saw two bodies in the backyard swimming pool and called 911 about 6:40 a.m.
Firefighters pulled three bodies from the pool. A man, a woman and a young girl had drowned, Herbert said.
Another female was found dead in a bathtub, said Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
All four apparently died from drowning, Luque said.
“We don’t know exactly what we have at this point,” Herbert said. “We have to sort through it very carefully.”
Jose Villa came to the street, distraught at the news. He said Georgina Pimienta was his stepdaughter, and described her as “a hard worker and a loving mother.” Villa said he knew of no financial or other problems in the family.
Villa said Alfredo Pimienta owned a towing company.
As news of the deaths spread through the community, several teenagers in High Tech High T-shirts showed up, crying as they collected near the police yellow tape. A receptionist who answered the telephone at High Tech High in Point Loma said the school had no comment on Priscilla’s death.
Burtson, 17, who described herself as Priscilla’s best friend, said a vigil would be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the school.
“She was the most compassionate, kind and honest friend I have ever had,” Burtson said. “We were excited together for the future.”
Jasmund said he met Priscilla when they were sophomores. He said she never talked about having any problems at home.
He said Priscilla hosted a pool party this past weekend, and he took Emily around the block on her bicycle.
On Monday afternoon, he said, he and Priscilla and other friends saw a movie, “The Priest.” Then she went off with some of the friends to get frozen yogurt and discuss plans for their prom, which is to be held at the Hyatt Mission Bay hotel.
One neighbor, Harold Moore, said he last saw the younger child riding her bicycle outside on Sunday night.
Moore said it was a quiet cul-de-sac, with six families who had lived there for 40 years or more.
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