Picture-Perfect Dad Posted Family Smiles Before Brutally Murdering Wife and Kids

The Sacramento father who shot and killed his wife and two children in a devastating murder-suicide this week appeared, at least online, to be a loving and devoted family man.

Social media photos shared by David Vallerga showed what looked like a close-knit household: smiling family snapshots, trips to the playground, bike-riding lessons, and everyday errands like Costco runs. In one post, he joked about shopping with his young daughter, Sydney, who appeared bundled in pink boots and a playful top while sitting in an oversized cart. “Costco runs are sooo difficult for Sydney,” he wrote.

Vallerga also documented bonding moments with his teenage son, Colton, including taking him to work and going out together to shop for dinner. Other posts showed Sydney interacting with the family’s pet lizard, with Vallerga joking that she might need a saddle for a ride.

There were affectionate posts about his wife, Lindsey G. Peralta Vallerga, too. In one, he shared a photo of an omelet he’d made, captioned, “How to make a wife happy.”

But behind the curated snapshots, a far darker reality emerged.

Police say Vallerga shot and killed Lindsey and the couple’s two children inside their Rancho Cordova home before calling authorities and claiming the house was booby-trapped. He then turned the gun on himself, officers said.

Some posts now strike a chilling note in hindsight, including a photo of Vallerga posing with a toy gun alongside his daughter, captioned, “Sydney learning trigger control from Daddy…” Vallerga also had a military background, which neighbors say added to the shock of the violence.

At least one neighbor said there were warning signs. The neighbor told reporters they had heard Vallerga yelling at his family in the past, including at the children. “I’m going to f*** you up,” he was once overheard screaming at his wife, the neighbor said.

The family also worked together at a brick-and-mortar tutoring business connected to GradePower Learning. Those who knew Lindsey described her as kind and supportive.

Emily Autenrieth, owner of A Seat at the Table Books in nearby Elk Grove, remembered Lindsey as “a wonderful neighbor.” She said the children were always polite and sweet, adding that Lindsey was a regular supporter of her bookstore and its mission.