Reward offered in stabbing death of husband, father

SAN JOSE >> Mothers Against Murder has offered a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in the death of Francisco “Frankie” Santos Jr., a 28-year-old husband and father who was stabbed to death early Sunday morning outside his home in the Burbank neighborhood.

The nonprofit organization is “extending their support” by offering the reward over the next 30 days, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said Friday in a news release.

Margaret Petros, executive director of Mothers Against Murder, said leaders of the small nonprofit was so outraged by the homicide they decided to put a deadline on the reward in hopes of bringing a swift arrest in the case.

“We’re ready to give out the $5,000,” Petros said. “We want the public, if they know something, please talk to the sheriff’s office. This is about a human being, children left without a father.

“We are so upset and want to make a difference.”

At 1:37 a.m. Sunday, sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Raymond Avenue and West San Carlos Street in unincorporated San Jose for a report of a person suffering from a chest injury after a brief confrontation.

Petros said Santos had come home early Sunday morning after attending a fantasy football party. On a GoFundMe page set up to help Santos’ wife and kids, family members said Santos was the victim of a “random act of violence.”

The sheriff’s office said the original dispatch report was a person had been shot, but when deputies arrived they Santos with a stab wound to the chest. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Petros said Santos was a hardworking, dedicated family man who married his childhood sweetheart.

A vigil was planned for Friday night. It was to include a walk on San Carlos Street to the Santos home, Petros said.

The suspects in the case are associated with a dark, full-size GMC/Chevrolet truck. The sheriff’s office could not confirm an exact number of suspects.