A suspect already in custody is now being held on suspicion of second-degree murder in the death of Krista Hunt, according to Skagit County Jail records.
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Juan Delgado Jr., the last person seen with Krista Joy Hunt, is now being held on suspicion of second-degree murder in addition to earlier charges in Skagit County, according to jail records.
The Skagit County Jail roster shows a new entry dated March 19, 2026, adding a murder charge tied to incident number 26-01235. The entry appears within Delgado’s existing inmate record, indicating he was already jailed on unrelated charges before the murder hold was added.
Formal charges had not been filed in Skagit County Superior Court as of publication.
Last known movements
Hunt was last seen around Jan. 25 near the Lone Star Restaurant in Concrete. Witnesses said she was with Delgado.
The two got into a truck. Hunt later got out and walked away. She was not seen again.
The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office located the remains a few days ago during a targeted search along the river near milepost 90.
Investigators said at the time the operation was connected to an active missing persons case, not a search and rescue call.
Deputies searched the area by boat before finding the body along the riverbank.
“He was a moment in her life”
As the case has unfolded, Hunt’s mother has publicly rejected how Delgado has continued to be described.
“Please can we stop referring to Juan Delgado Jr. as Krista’s boyfriend,” Pamela Hoyt-Hunt wrote Thursday. “He was a moment in her life. He subjected her to relentless cruelty and nothing else.”
“He’s not a man! but a foolish tormented boy from a violent biker world who knew nothing of love,” Hunt wrote. “He treated her as something to break, not cherish.”
Allegations of violence before disappearance
In a GoFundMe post created during the search, Hoyt-Hunt described severe injuries her daughter suffered in the weeks before she disappeared.
“She was covered in bruises, both new and old, had been strangled, had two black eyes, and a broken leg,” she wrote. “Doctors warned that if she was strangled again, she might not survive.”
Those details have also been reflected in prior reporting as the case gained wider attention.
“She was definitely one of a kind”
After confirmation that the remains were that of Krista Hunt, her mother shared a message about the response from the community.
“Wow! So much love and support from so many different directions. It’s a bit overwhelming in a beautiful way,” Hoyt-Hunt said on Wednesday. “It feels so good to know how much love Krista shared with so many people from all walks of life. She was definitely one of a kind.”
What happens next
Delgado remains in custody as prosecutors review the case. A charging decision is expected following the investigative hold.
Prosecutors typically have a limited window to file formal charges following a new arrest or investigative hold. In this case, the suspect remains in custody while charging decisions are pending.
PNW Daily will update this story as court filings are released.
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