Who is Bryant Tejeda Castillo? Marine fatally stabs pregnant wife on Hawaii highway after argument
Warning: Graphic content
HONOLULU, HAWAII: An active duty Marine allegedly stabbed his pregnant wife to death during an argument on a Hawaii freeway, Honolulu Police police said. On July 20, Bryant Tejeda Castillo, 29, stabbed Dana Alotaibi, 27, and escaped to a nearby wooded area, witnesses claimed. Alotaibi was pronounced dead at a Hawaii hospital soon after the brutal attack.
KITV4 reported that Alotaibi, a Virginia native, was three months pregnant at the time of the slaying. After killing his wife, Castillo reportedly turned the knife on himself but did not die. He was taken into custody and is being treated at a Hawaii hospital for the wounds he inflicted on himself. Castillo, charged with second-degree murder, had his bail set at $1 million.
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Who is Bryant Tejeda Castillo?
Bryant Tejeda Castillo is reportedly a Marine assigned to the 3rd Littoral Combat Team. According to his Facebook profile, he is from Bronx, New York, and studied at Penn State. He also studied at Suffolk County Community College and went to Christopher Columbus High School.
Alotaibi and Castillo were married for three years and had reportedly been dealing with marital problems, HPD homicide lieutenant Deena Thoemmes said, according to New York Post. Castillo had filed for a divorce in November 2021, and a court granted it in June.
The Honolulu Police Department and the Department of the Prosecutors’ Office domestic team are continuing their investigation of the suspect. They will review both documented and undocumented domestic violence incidents from the past.
Alotaibi's mother Natalia Cespedes told Hawaii News Now that Castillo abused her daughter, who got the military's version of a restraining order against him. She believes her daughter would not have died if military officials had offered the help she sought. “Probably because she’s the woman they don’t care or she looked like crazy, they don’t care,” Cespedes said.
In a statement, Marine Corps Base Hawaii said that they are aware of the incident. “The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment and Marine Corps Base Hawaii will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials as the details surrounding this incident unfold,” Marine Corps Base Hawaii told KITV4. “The Marine Corps extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those involved,” they further added.
Alotaibi's loved ones and advocates believe that the incident would urge other victims to reach out to civilian resources and the military system. "You’re still one of our community members. And we care about them just as it’s not like there’s a bubble, that that’s all that they have,” said psychologist Dr Lisa Hartwell, who has counseled military families.
Alotaibi's mother has set up a GofundMe page for her daughter following the murder. "Hi, my name is Natalia mother of dana, unfortunately, my daughter was kill by his husband, she was 9 weeks pregnant. She wanted to return home since she was separating from his husband, she wanted start over and return to Virginia with his family. She has many dreams to have the baby, buy a house but on July 21st I received the call that my daughter was stab to dead by his husband in the Hwy in Hawaii. Anything that helps for travel expenses and possible bringing her body back home will help," the page reads. At the time of writing this article, $5,960 had been raised out of the $15,000 goal.