OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 202 North Ninth Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 oagcriminallitigation@oag.state.va.us Affiant, K~ A. Reese THE LEX GRoupDc 1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. "Those children, she bathed them, she fed them, she put them to bed, read them a story, they said prayers and said good night -- that was about between 9 and 9:30, all the time Mr. Castillo was in that house, probably in the basement waiting, and then he ambushed her later on. Nick Castillo is currently suing his father for wrongful death, hoping to get back some of the family inheritance that he says his dad cleaned out before he went to prison. Strong Castle attractedcongressional scrutiny in 2013 when it was revealed that the company had received preference on government contracts because Braulio Castillo claimed he was a service-disabled veteran. He had injured his ankle playing football at a military prep school in 1984. Braulio M. Castillo v. Loudoun County Department of Family Services :: 2018 :: Virginia Court of Appeals - Published Opinions Decisions :: Virginia Case Law :: Virginia Law :: US Law :: Justia Justia US Law Case Law Virginia Case Law Virginia Court of Appeals - Published Opinions Decisions 2018 Braulio M. Castillo v. Braulio Castillo and a neighbor went inside, searched the house, and then Castillo took the children to school while the neighbor called police. Investigation Discoverys On the Case With Paula Zahn: No Escape portrays the horrible murder and shows how a police investigation unraveled a sinister plot fueled with hatred and rage. uuid:c0f596ca-2d64-4eb9-97da-0359d99deb2c This article was published more than6 years ago. The medical examiner ruled she had not been strangled by the cord around her neck, but had been suffocated, and Braulio Castillos DNA was found on her bed and sweatshirt, though he hadnt been in the house for a year. ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy Career; 1991; 1992; Batting Game Logs. "And then he comes down and he tells me he's on the phone with his lawyer and his lawyer has advised him not to speak to me. added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. choices) and/or to monitor site performance. and analytics partners. Michelle G. Castillo, was found dead in her home on March 20th when police entered the home to check on her wellbeing. Get the must-read daily newsletter covering FCW community. They need more. "And so, you know, if you can't trust the lead detective, how can you trust the evidence?". Braulio Castillos sister drove his children to a parking lot to drop them off for Michelle Castillo. But, the frauds cast a pall over the program and they should be investigated. The body of his wife was discovered March 20 in her home in Ashburn, Va. NEXT STORY: default settings according to your preference. Braulio Castillo played for 1 team, the Philadelphia Phillies. However, while canvassing the nearby area, officers noticed CCTV cameras which gave them a clear view of anyone approaching the house. Braulio Castillo Overview. Obituary of Michelle Lee Castillo Michelle Lee Castillo, 43 years old, of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away on March 20, 2014. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. McCaffrey thinks he's got his man, but he's about to be dealt a shocking blow that could destroy the entire case. Initially, the police decided to look for intruders around the midnight mark but were unable to find any. They alleged that Castillo staged his wifes death to look like a suicide. Both Braulio and Michelle wanted a big family. "I miss my mom. Jun 1, 2016 1 The Castillo children dealt a possibly damaging blow on May 27 in the case against their father, Braulio M. Castillo, who is accused of killing their mother, Michelle. Michelle Castillo, a 43-year-old mother of five, was found hanging in a basement shower on March 20, 2014, apparently having taken her own life. Soon, forensic evidence begins to support that conclusion. endstream endobj 13 0 obj <> endobj 7 0 obj <> endobj 2 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0 0 612 792]/Type/Page>> endobj 8 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0 0 612 792]/Type/Page>> endobj 31 0 obj <>stream "The detectives ran cadaver dogs through that house, and cadaver dogs basically alert to the scent of human decomposition," said Nicole Wittmann. Greenspun asked the judge to reduce the sentence, to allow Castillo to be released from prison one day and reconcile with his children. Together they ran a highly successful information-technology business, and thanks to Braulio's status as a wounded veteran, they were first in line for lucrative government jobs. However, after the injury in his high school, Castillo played college football for the University of San Diego the following year. However, you see some advertising, regardless of your selection. This may impact the "I went to the autopsy the next day and there were extensive injuries," said McCaffrey. Jeter Downs needs to play to develop. Castillo gained notoriety as a result of a June 2013 hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that examined the validity of the service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) status enjoyed by the firm he co-owned with his wife. Horrific: Northern Virginia CEO Braulio Castillo (right) is charged with brutally beating his wife Michelle (left) to death then trying to cover it up by hanging her body from a ceiling The. A subscription to PACER is required. Michelle's estranged husband, Braulio, lives just a few blocks away, and Detective McCaffrey reaches his home in less than a minute. "I could see her that life was very similar to mine. But in March 2013, Michelle Castillo filed for a protective order from her husband, providing a four-page list of abusive behavior by him such as trying to force her to have sex, locking her in rooms and cursing their children. We also Castillo is planning to appeal the sentence. Shame on you. The businessman wasn't going to let that happen. Regarding our company or our marriage or our life? Prosecutor Nicole Wittmann shares Detective McCaffrey's suspicion. "And I asked him 'How did you know it was your dad?' There is a disturbing case out of Northern Virginia where Braulio Castillo, the CEO of a computer company, is accused of beating his wife and then hanging her from the ceiling to make it look like a suicide. You do the crime, you dont get a pass., Local news, weather, sports, events, restaurants and more, Kids rip Ashburn CEO for murder of their mother, judge imposes life sentence, Daves Hot Chicken will have you begging for more, and maybe for mercy. Cops arrive to search the home and make a gruesome discovery: Michelle is hanging from a shower head in the basement bathroom, an electrical cord wrapped around her neck. "I was looking at the time frame from midnight on and I didn't see any perpetrator going into the house, and I couldn't understand it because if it was after midnight, the alarm would've went off, those kids would've woke up, everybody would've woken up, so I couldn't understand it, and I'd lay there at night thinking in the initial stages, How did this happen?" TB3NfbLuZ;P}"_N.Uk|I J,]=/+nO'. Most minority companies are funded by wealthy backers and why should a person from Spain or India be given minority status? website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have I am a PI who did a lot of insurance fraud cases. "The other thing I noted about that, he had a black eye and a scratch running down his face," said McCaffrey. 2021-01-04T16:12:20-05:00 Josiah Gray finishes April with a flourish as Nats avoid a series sweep. application/pdf Adobe Acrobat 10.1.16 Paper Capture Plug-in When I took my criminal investigation class, we were told that a family member commits the crime 90+% of the time. Loudoun Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Nicole Wittmann argued that Castillo did not want his ex-wife controlling access to his children and wanted to share his life with a triathlete he had begun dating. Michelle and Braulio Castillo purchased and then ran a small Leesburg-based IT company called Strong Castle, which had been awarded $500 million worth of IRS contracts in 2012. Braulio Castillo is appealing his conviction, the Loudon Times-Mirror reports. Word of Michelle's disappearance reaches oldest son Nick, who's away at college. The dog alerted in one other place in the house, and that was at the foot of Michelle's bed.". He had been free on $2 million bond for the last two years. content and messages you see on other websites you visit. Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Nicole Wittman carried a large photo of Michelle Castillo and the children and placed it on an easel in front of Sincavage. user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your 20210104154037065.pdf Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Braulio Castillo . After a jury in June convicted their father, former IT executive Braulio Castillo, of first-degree murder, three of the children tore into him in a Loudoun County courtroom Friday as a judge. "One of the children had noted -- his attention to detail was pretty amazing for someone that young -- he had noted to us that the bed did not look right when he went in his mother's bedroom that morning looking for her, the bed was made but it was not made the way she did it," said McCaffrey. A six week trial concluded in the Spring of 2016 with the Jury fixing Castillo's sentence at life, plus sixteen years imprisonment. Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information. He got so many govt. He has been citing a football injury that he suffered while attending the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School in 1984. So it struck me almost immediately that this doesn't seem like somebody who would voluntarily leave her children alone.". The house was locked all night and the alarm was set. She received her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and her Masters Degree in Management of Global Information Technology from the Kogod School of Business at American University in Washington, District of Columbia. Sign up to receive breaking True Crime Daily news, exclusive stories and behind-the-scenes info. Because we do not track you across different devices, We all know it.. ", Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information. . The sheets had been changed, the bedding was gone. But who could've staged it? Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active. 2021-01-04T16:12:06-05:00 He had been free on $2 million bail, according to the report. Based on his conviction, Braulio was sentenced to life in prison with an additional 16-year prison term. determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and March 19, 2014: Michelle and Braulio meet that afternoon to finalize terms of their divorce. The order was imposed, and Braulio Castillo was forced to move to another home a few blocks away in Ashburn. The Virginia Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions for first degree murder, burglary and violation of a protective order against Braulio Castillo. Its not about whether he has been and continues to be a good person, the judge said. SBA decertified Strong Castle's HUBZone status in May 2013, while the Department of Veterans Affairs affirmed Strong Castles SDVOSB status last September. Michelle Lee Castillo, 43 years old, of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away on March 20, 2014. cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. information by using this toggle switch. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The two were in the middle of a bitter divorce and custody battle. "And Mr. Castillo I think realized that this kid is going to come popping out and come back into this room looking for this security blanket, and so what the little boy said was that his father appeared and brought him his little 'lovey' blanket, he said he didn't say anything to him, but he gave him the blanket," said Wittmann. This is a victory for her friends and her children., Local news, weather, sports, events, restaurants and more, UPDATE: Ashburn CEO Braulio Castillo, convicted of wifes murder, sentenced to life plus 16 years, Daves Hot Chicken will have you begging for more, and maybe for mercy. Personal Information. Braulio M. Castillo ("appellant") was convicted of first-degree murder, in violation of Code 18.2-32, burglary with the intent to commit murder, in violation of Code 18.2-90, and violation of a protective order, in violation of Code 16.1-253.2. "The evidence shows she was beaten and suffocated before she was found hanging in the downstairs bathroom," Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman told NBC Washington. People don't do that, and I've had lots of suicides. Private Sector. A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a personalize your experience with targeted ads. But the hearing was postponed due to a crowded docket. "When he left with the children, the neighbor didn't feel things were right and it was the neighbor who called the sheriff's office and we responded and ultimately found her hanging in the bsasement bathroom downstairs.". If you do not allow these cookies you may not be Braulio Castillo, president and CEO of embattled government VAR Strong Castle, is currently behind bars and being held without bond after being arrested and charged with first-degree murder of. The jury will return Tuesday to consider a sentence, according to the. "These children are actually thriving if you can imagine it," said Wittmann. Two of Braulio and Michelles children also testified against their father and affirmed that he was present in the house on the night of the murder. In April 2013, Michelle filed for divorce and secured a protective order against Braulio. The two had been separated for more than a year. "She was out with her friends celebrating the fact that she had just qualified for the Boston Marathon and had just days before completed running her first triathlon," said Wittmann. In March 2013, Michelle Castillo obtained an emergency protective order against her husband, claiming he tried to force her to have sex, was verbally abusive and had imprisoned her at times in their $1.1 million home on Belmont Station Drive. Braulio Castillo, 43, of Ashburn, was arrested April 1 and charged with first-degree murder for the March 19 killing of Michelle Castillo. Unless they have a compound fracture, some athletes will play through the injury. When Michelle Castillo was found slain in her Ashburn home in March 2014, five children were left without a mother. 1 browser. The victim had extensive injuries on her face and neck, along with severe bruising to her legs, which hinted at possible physical assault. '", "It was very difficult for the jury to hear that testimony," said Rueda. to learn more. What to Know. When did Braulio Castillo retire? She made a big impact on all of us.. A visitation and funeral services were planned last weekend to honor Michelle. Fcw is part of the Media & Internet industry, and located in Virginia, United States. Castillo has been under investigation by Congress over $500 million in contracts secured through a special service-disabled veteran status law. Procurement Policy. privacy request at our Do Not Sell page. He told an examiner for the VA that his injury is one of the crosses I bear due to my service to our great country.. She looks pregnant in that picture, but yeah just call her fat. Waiting for your permission to load facebook comments. You may opt out of our use of such Visit www.allaboutcookies.org Castillo, 43, was under investigation when he was arrested on April 1 for the murder in Loudon County. Braulio Castillo's name is already known to many on Capitol Hill. He also moved right down the street from his estranged wife. In early 2012, they bought a small company, renamed it Strong Castle, and quickly began receiving tens of millions of dollars in federal IT contracts from the IRS, which attracted Congressional scrutiny. Unfortunately, with no witnesses or leads to follow, the primary investigation was quite challenging for authorities. 4. 18 0 obj <> endobj 17 0 obj <>stream 1991; 1992; After Loudoun sheriffs deputies watched the surveillance tape and learned of the Castillos divorce proceedings and the protective order based on Michelle Castillos claims of extensive abuse by her husband, they obtained a murder warrant for Castillo. The trafficking charges against Castillo were reinstated, but subsequently nolle prossed. According to court documents obtained by News4's Julie Carey, Michelle had accused her husband of being physically abusive and threatening her before they separated. What Is the Debt Limit and What Happens If the US Defaults? Greenspun argued that prosecutors failed to disclose the report to the defense, and he could have used it to impeach McCaffreys credibility as the central investigator of Castillo. "This was 17 days after the murder, Michelle's body was gone, by then long gone, the house had been cleaned by Mr. Castillo's family. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking This is the same guy that was dressed down by Rep. Tammy Duckworth last year in a hearing regarding preferred contracting. And then at 12:31 I see a figure run out of the house when we reviewed it.". The prosecution questioned Castillo's alibi, namely the black eye he received the night she died and his trip to his friend's house. A judge imposed the jury's recommendation for Braulio Castillo. BRAULIO M. CASTILLO, MBA CAREER HISTORY STRONG CASTLE, INC. - Presid ent & CEO 2012 to Present Mr. Castillo is the President and CEO of Strong Castle, Inc. Mr. Castillo works with clients, IT solution partners and major hardware and software manufacturers, as well as the company's management and employees. She was a mother of children and they were obviously the central focus of her life. "And the dog immediately ran down to the basement and alerted in the shower, where Michelle was hanging. Is Braulio the man in the video? The children were staying with her and were surprised to find her missing the following morning. 8a, There is a landscaping company owned by a guy whose wife is American Indian. The viewing will be held at Adams-Green Funeral Home at 721 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170 on Saturday, April 5, 2014 from 5pm to 8pm. Michelle was born in Warner Robins, Georgia on January 15, 1971. But the court's decision is delayed. We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by Braulio Castillo was immediately sent to jail Monday night. Prosecutors allege that Braulio Castillo jogged over to his former house, where a nearby surveillance camera captured a grainy figure going inside at 8:10 p.m., and that he hid in the house until the children went to sleep. So what caused Michelle to fall into such sudden despair that she would take her own life? According to reports, the children informed Braulio about their mothers disappearance. Circuit Court Judge Stephen Sincavage presided over the six-week jury trial in 2016. Statistically, they are the most likely. Until he was convicted for fraud. "These children are actually thriving if you can imagine it," said Wittmann. Accused of murdering his estranged wife and staging it to look like a suicide, Braulio Castillo's life hung in the balance as he strode to the witness stand in a Loudoun County courtroom Monday. Interviews with Michelle's kids raise major questions too. B The next morning, the couple's four youngest children called Braulio Castillo because they couldn't find their mother. By the end of the first day of deliberations, the jury reaches its verdict: guilty of first-degree murder. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and She actively supported the local and international communities. Castillo v. Government Acquisitions, Inc. et al Access additional case information on PACER Use the links below to access additional information about this case on the US Court's PACER system. I really wanted her to be there. Some of the familys dozens of supporters in the courtroom wept. Michelle was a loving mother to five children. Sincavage ruled that Greenspun could not have used the report, and denied the motion. Defense experts testified that her injuries could have been caused by hanging herself. "I know that she was seeking somewhere in the neighborhood of $14- to $17,000 a month in child support," said Nicole Wittmann. More Castillo Pages. 0. Promoted By University of Maryland Capital Region Health, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. According to reports, Nick Castillo (the eldest son of the couple) filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him. Today, the four youngest remain together in a new home. of the site will not work as intended if you do so. Its about his conduct., Nick Castillo said afterward: Its a bittersweet moment for me, to be completely honest. Later that evening, Michelle picks up her children from a visit with Braulio. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the technologies for the following purposes: We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to He was seenleaving the home at 12:31 a.m. on March 20. That was when authorities finally managed to recover Michelles body from a bathroom in the basement. Terms of Use | His marriage was over and his wife was going to take him to the cleaners. If police are right, the football disability did not prevent the beating to death of his wife and hanging her from a ceiling. Investigators say Castillo searched the basement, reported that he couldn't find Michelle and left with the children. She was 43, and the couple had been married 18 years. What Is the Debt Limit and What Happens If the US Defaults? That person, or someone, emerged from the house at 12:30 a.m., the surveillance video showed. Both Nicholas Castillo and the neighbor identified the shadowy figure as Braulio Castillo. traffic on our website. Thinking about it right now, it gets me all choked up.". Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Shame on you, Mr. Castillo, Duckworth said in the hearing. Loudoun Circuit Court Judge Stephen E. Sincavage set sentencing for Oct. 6, where he can impose the jurys sentence, suspend or reduce it, but not increase it. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org Braulio Castillo last played in 1992. It shows Michelle arriving home at 8:19. All signs were pointing to him as a suspect in his wife's murder, which was first thought to be a mysterious suicide. But thanks to some pillow talk, the detective catches a break. "His divorce attorney kept wanting to negotiate as part of the divorce settlement that she withdraw that protective order," said Alejandra Rueda. "It's really, really hard on the mind," said Nick Castillo. McCaffrey. Oh my GOSH! They pulled the dog off that, the dog then went through the entire house, over 10,000 square feet. But there is no sign of any intruder or possible suspect. That footage can be seen here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/27/196277555/watch-rep-tammy-duckworth-dresses-down-irs-contractor. All rights reserved. UPDATE, Tuesday 4:25 p.m.: The Loudoun County jury who convicted BraulioCastillo on Monday heard evidence and argument Tuesday morning, and then sentenced him to life plus 16 years in prison Tuesday afternoon. The hanging did not cause her death. Today we ask you never to forget Michelle Castillo, Wittman told the judge. Braulio Castillo is sentenced to life without parole, plus 16 years, leaving behind a family torn apart by the murder of a loving mother, trying to heal. For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link. Braulio Castillo was charged April 1 with the first-degree murder of his wife, according to Loudoun County authorities. Promoted By University of Maryland Capital Region Health, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Loudoun Commonwealths Attorney Jim Plowman said the jury deliberated for about three hours before returning a life sentence on the first-degree murder charge, which had a minimum 20-year term, plus 15 years for burglary and one year for violating a protective order, for entering his former Ashburn home after being prohibited by the order. "Yelling, screaming, cursing directed at her, directed at me.". He appeared in court Monday for an arraignment and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for next month. However, they soon realized that anyone breaking in would be able to hide inside to ambush the victim later. Although she was married to Braulio Castillo, her marriage was falling apart, and she was estranged from her husband. The whole thing is a joke and should be ended. I can see him play football the year after he was injured. LEESBURG, Virginia - June 4, 2019. By the end of it, the jury returned a guilty verdict, and Braulio Castillo was convicted of first-degree murder along with burglary and violation of a protective order. VA's health record 'reset' has budget fallout, OMB, CISA set to release common form for software self-attestation, NASA struggles to improve workforce diversity, Space Force should look to the private sector to fill data gaps, watchdog says, The Next Phase of Zero Trust: Measuring Outcomes, IARPA's plan to hack the brains of hackers, VA paid for but didn't deploy an emergency communications system, Some states may be barring the door to unemployment benefits, National Park Service considers a digital park pass, IRS outlines tech modernization, CX plans as part of $80 billion overhaul, GovExec eBook: How The Federal Government Plans To Better Serve Citizens, Yes, I want to receive occasional updates from partners. Braulio Castillo, a Loudoun County CEO, was sentenced to life in prison plus 16 years for murdering his estranged wife. The judge's sentencing decision followed the testimony of two of the Castillos' children and an emotional letter from another. Lets delve deep into the details of this case and find out where the murderer is at present, shall we? Braulio Castillo is accused of killing his estranged wife, Michelle Castillo, and trying to make the death look like a suicide, according to media reports . Can Barbara Mikulski fix the appropriations process? department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My He looks like a big guy himself, perfectly capable of lifting his wife. able to use or see these sharing tools. ABC News Censors Democratic Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Hunters Collapsing World: Why a Criminal Plea Could Now be the Best Option for the Bidens, Alito: I Know Who Likely Leaked the Dobbs Decision, The Dark Biden Rises: The Reinvention of Hunter in a New and Menacing Image. All rights reserved, Julie Carey, Northern Virginia Bureau Chief, Coach Mentors District Heights Kids Through Basketball, Man Shot Trying to Stop Scooter Robbery in Northwest DC, Witnesses Say, 7 Bodies Found During Search for Missing Oklahoma Teens. The noose was tightening around Braulio Castillo. Police may have never been able to solve this case if not for a surveillance camera at the neighbor's house that caught a man entering the Castillo home the night of the murder. Strong Castle had software contracts with the IRS with a ceiling value of $500 million. Braulio Castillo is now a prime suspect -- but cops first need to prove that Michelle's death was murder, not suicide. "It looked like something you would expect to see at some haunted house or something. DNA tests finally come back, erasing any doubts for investigators: It's their man, Braulio Castillo. "So when the CSI folks, when they stripped the bed they found blood on a pillowcase.". the 8a program should be terminated. When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect Braulio tried unsuccessfully to appeal his conviction. We all pay for fraud be it in the public or private sector.
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