David Edward Vallerga Jr. and the 2026 Rancho Cordova Family Murders
Overview of the Case
On January 27, 2026, 58-year-old David Edward Vallerga Jr. killed his wife and their two children inside the family’s home in Rancho Cordova, California, before fatally shooting himself. The deaths occurred in the 5400 block of Mill Water Circle, a residential cul-de-sac in Sacramento County. Investigators with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office classified the shooting as a murder-suicide and identified Vallerga as the person responsible for the three homicides.
The victims were Vallerga’s 49-year-old wife, Lindsey Burger, who was also publicly known as Lindsey Peralta Vallerga, and the couple’s children, 13-year-old Colton Peralta Vallerga and 11-year-old Sydney Peralta Vallerga. All three victims suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Authorities have not publicly identified a confirmed motive for the killings.
The Morning of the Shooting
The emergency began shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, when a neighbor called 911 and reported hearing gunshots and screaming near Mill Water Circle and Copper Sunset Way. Witness accounts indicated that several shots were heard during the disturbance. The violence was especially alarming because the surrounding Rancho Cordova neighborhood was generally described as quiet and peaceful.
Less than five minutes after the first report, Vallerga called the Sacramento County 911 communications center. According to the Sheriff’s Office, he provided his address, identified himself as the shooter and claimed that he had installed booby traps inside the residence. The warning caused responding officers to treat the property as a possible explosive threat as well as an active shooting scene.
Officers established a perimeter around the house and evacuated nearby residents. Investigators learned that Vallerga had previous military experience and possessed numerous firearms, increasing concerns that entering the home could place officers and neighbors in additional danger. Deputies also reported hearing what they believed was another gunshot after arriving in the area.
Law Enforcement Response
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail, the agency’s tactical team, was called to the scene. Officers attempted to contact anyone inside the residence, but they received no response. A search warrant was obtained before the tactical team moved forward with an entry plan.
Deputies used armored vehicles during the operation. A smaller armored vehicle known as a Rook was used to breach a side or rear fence and open a sliding glass door. A Sheriff’s Office drone was then flown into the residence so officers could inspect the interior without immediately exposing themselves to gunfire or possible explosive devices.
The drone located Vallerga lying unresponsive inside the home. He was found with a pistol in or near his right hand. Tactical officers entered and discovered Lindsey, Colton and Sydney in other areas of the residence. Each had suffered apparent gunshot wounds, and all four members of the family were pronounced dead at the scene.
Evidence Recovered Inside the Home
Because Vallerga had warned dispatchers about booby traps, the Sheriff’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team conducted a careful search of the property. No bombs, traps or explosive devices were found. Investigators did, however, recover a substantial collection of firearms from the house.
A second pistol was reportedly located beneath Vallerga’s body. Approximately 14 additional firearms were seized elsewhere in the residence, bringing the reported total to about 16 guns. The collection included handguns and long guns. Detectives also recovered numerous spent cartridge casings representing at least two different calibers.
Investigators reported that the casings were consistent with firearms recovered at the scene. Based on the physical evidence, the locations of the bodies, Vallerga’s 911 statement and witness information, detectives concluded that Vallerga shot his wife and children before turning a firearm on himself.
The Victims
- Lindsey Burger, also known as Lindsey Peralta Vallerga — Age 49. She was killed by gunfire on January 27, 2026, inside the family residence on Mill Water Circle in Rancho Cordova, California. Lindsey was involved in education and tutoring businesses operated by the family.
- Colton Peralta Vallerga — Age 13. He was fatally shot on January 27, 2026, inside the Rancho Cordova home. Neighbors remembered him as a happy child who enjoyed Pokémon and spent time playing in the neighborhood.
- Sydney Peralta Vallerga — Age 11. She was fatally shot on January 27, 2026, at the Mill Water Circle residence. Neighbors described her as cheerful and creative, with an interest in drawing and making chalk art.
Lindsey and the Children
Lindsey and her children were known in the community through the family’s educational work. Reports indicated that Lindsey and Vallerga operated tutoring-related businesses, including services that had grown from work conducted at their home. Lindsey was remembered as someone who cared about helping children and families with education.
Colton and Sydney were reportedly homeschooled and attended or participated in the family’s tutoring program. Neighbors frequently saw the children outside and described them as friendly, active and happy. Sydney was remembered for her creativity and love of art, while Colton was remembered for his interest in games and Pokémon.
After the deaths became public, flowers and other memorial items were placed near the home. A community gathering was also organized to allow friends, neighbors and other residents to grieve. Much of the public remembrance focused on Lindsey’s educational work and the personalities and interests of the two children rather than on the man who killed them.
Questions About the Family’s Private Life
Authorities initially reported that there was no known history of domestic-violence calls connected to the home. The absence of documented police reports did not explain what may have been occurring privately within the family. Some neighbors later described hearing Vallerga shout or speak aggressively to his wife and children, while others said they had never observed anything that caused them to believe the family was in immediate danger.
These differing accounts demonstrated how little people outside the residence may have known about the relationships inside it. Investigators did not announce evidence of a prior restraining order, an active domestic-violence investigation or an earlier criminal case that clearly predicted the killings.
Unconfirmed Motive
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office continued investigating why Vallerga murdered his family. Officials did not announce a verified explanation involving finances, marital problems, employment, custody, mental illness or another specific cause. Statements from neighbors concerning his behavior or possible personal problems remained observations rather than an official determination of motive.
Vallerga’s false statement that the house contained booby traps also remained a disturbing part of the case. The warning delayed entry and forced deputies to evacuate residents and deploy bomb technicians. Investigators did not publicly explain whether he made the claim to delay police, frighten responders, create confusion or for another reason.
Classification of the Deaths
The deaths of Lindsey, Colton and Sydney were investigated as homicides. Vallerga’s death was treated as a suicide. Although four people died, authorities determined that no additional gunman or accomplice was being sought. The available evidence indicated that Vallerga acted alone.
Because Vallerga died at the scene, there could be no arrest, criminal prosecution or trial. The investigative focus instead involved documenting the sequence of shootings, examining the firearms, processing the house, interviewing witnesses and attempting to establish a motive.
Impact on Rancho Cordova
The murders shocked residents of the Kavala Ranch area and the wider Rancho Cordova community. Neighbors described the cul-de-sac as a place where people walked dogs, exercised and allowed children to play outside. The sound of gunfire and screams, followed by armored vehicles, evacuations and a large law-enforcement presence, transformed the normally calm neighborhood into the scene of a major homicide investigation.
The deaths were especially devastating because two young children were deliberately killed in their own home. Community members remembered Colton and Sydney as children with distinct interests, friendships and futures. Lindsey was remembered for her work with students and families. Their deaths left relatives, friends, clients and neighbors searching for an explanation that investigators had not yet been able to provide publicly.
Conclusion
David Edward Vallerga Jr. was responsible for the January 27, 2026, murder-suicide that killed Lindsey Burger, Colton Peralta Vallerga and Sydney Peralta Vallerga in Rancho Cordova, California. After shooting the three victims, he called 911, identified himself as the shooter, falsely warned that the residence contained booby traps and then took his own life.
The tactical search revealed no explosive devices, but deputies recovered numerous firearms and cartridge casings from the property. Investigators concluded from the physical evidence and Vallerga’s own call that he acted alone. With the perpetrator dead and no additional suspect being sought, the central unanswered question remained why he chose to kill his wife and two children.
