The tragic death of Karina Castro: Heartbroken dad of woman beheaded by ex-BF says it feels 'like a horror movie'
Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised
SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA: Martin Castro Jr has been fuming about the murder of his 27-year daughter, Karina Castro, at the hands of her ex-boyfriend who slayed her with a samurai sword in the middle of the road in broad daylight. Karina was beheaded by her ex-boyfriend Jose Solano Landaeta with a sword in full view of her scared neighbors outside her house in the Bay Area. Landaeta, 33, of Hayward, California, was arrested on homicide charges by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Castro is hoping the accused is sentenced to death for what he did to his daughter.
Speaking to NBC, Karina’s father, Martin Castro Jr, said, "I feel like this is a horror movie I need to wake up from. None of us have eaten. None of us have slept. None of us have drank anything. Nothing. I can't even feel anything right now, except hurt. I'm empty. If they'll give him the death penalty, I'm all for it."
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Father of woman ‘beheaded’ by her estranged boyfriend in #SanCarlos #murder case expresses anger at suspect now in custody. pic.twitter.com/lTHPHxWAOf
— Robert Handa (@RHandaNBC) September 9, 2022
After the horrific murder, Landaeta reportedly fled the area, but when police arrived on the site, he reappeared. ABC7 reported that the victim had obtained a temporary restraining order against him in April. Police said the victim was the mother of two daughters, ages 7 and 1, who were not present when the crime was committed.
On the morning of September 8, witnesses saw their neighbor being killed in the middle of the street and in full daylight, according to Lieutenant Eamon Allen. “The head was underneath the car and she was laying in the back of the car- just severed,” he told ABC7. Within minutes after the murder, which happened at about 11.50 am, authorities were on the site and discovered Landaeta and two pals returning to the victim's home.
Chapel Thorborne, who claimed to have seen the horrifying spectacle from the steps of his house, told ABC7, “After he cut her head off, he came walking up, him and his two friends. And they walked right by me and they arrested him. He was hurt, shocked, disappointed."
Neighbors in shock at #SanCarlos apt complex where a #DomesticViolence incident ended w man allegedly using samurai sword to ‘behead’ woman. Man in custody. A neighbor recalls overhearing ominous conversation between suspect and a friend (with Russian accent) just last week. pic.twitter.com/HzNej4qSqM
— Robert Handa (@RHandaNBC) September 9, 2022
The accused has a history of criminal offenses and mental health issues, which boiled up when he got into an argument with the victim at around 10.30 am before chopping her head off outside the house.
The Sherriff's Department stated that the investigation is ongoing and that first responders and onlookers who witnessed the horrifying crime being committed are receiving peer assistance. “Anytime someone loses their life it's certainly a tragedy,” Allen said. “As far as the shocking nature of it, I do know that the deputies that first arrived on scene were a little beset by the scene. We are providing peer support, we are also providing support for the witnesses that were on scene as well, because there were several civilian witnesses.”