ABC7’s sister station KGO-TV initially withheld her name out of respect for her family, but her father and grandmother have since given permission to release her name: Karina Castro. The video in the player above is from a previous report. Castro was a 27-year-old mother of two daughters, ages 7 and 1. She attended Menlo-Atherton High School, got her GED and worked as a DoorDash driver. On Thursday, Castro was beheaded in what initial witness reports described as a street sword attack in front of stunned witnesses in the city of San Carlos. Her suspected assailant was identified as 33-year-old Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, father of Castro’s 1-year-old daughter. Castro’s family says the defendant goes by the name Rafa Solano and is a diagnosed schizophrenic whose behavior would change wildly depending on the balance of his medication. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department said the crime happened just before noon Thursday on the street outside Castro’s residence. Sources say there was a history of domestic violence at the address where Castro was killed. The graphic nature of the crime was surprising enough that tips were issued for sheriff’s deputies who first arrived at the gruesome scene, as well as neighbors who witnessed the events. Authorities said Castro’s two children did not witness the crime. Sources told KGO-TV reporter Dan Noyes that the children were inside the home at the time. Child protective services took custody of the two girls, along with a dog and two cats that were also inside the home. Castro’s father and grandmother are desperately trying to get the young girls back from CPS. They say they learned of the killing online and are upset that social workers and police have failed to contact them. Solano’s arraignment on the murder charges was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday, but was postponed. WATCHES | San Mateo County Sheriff’s Officials Discuss San Carlos’ Brutal Murder Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.
