Karina Castro was killed Thursday outside her home in San Carlos. At approximately 11:50 A.M. on Thursday, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at Laurel Street and Magnolia Avenue, a few blocks away from a Caltrain station, after witnesses reported a home invasion. Deputies found the woman’s body at the scene, but the sheriff’s office has not released a cause of death. Law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told KGO that the woman was beheaded. Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33, was arrested on suspicion of murder and is expected in court later this week. Castro’s family says Landaeta is the father of Castro’s 1-year-old daughter and claims he was abusive to Castro. Marty Castro, Karina Castro’s father, said he ran to her house after seeing on the news that a woman had been killed in San Carlos. he said he learned at the scene his daughter was dead. “If there is someone out there abusing your daughter, don’t take off. Don’t let it go. Don’t take no for an answer,” Marty Castro told KGO. “You feel responsible, no matter what anyone says.” Karina Castro’s 7-year-old and 1-year-old daughters are with child protective services, Marty Castro said, and he hopes they will be placed in his custody. The Community Foundation of San Carlos receives donations to trust the children. “I just want to thank everyone who donated to help my daughters children, my beautiful grandchildren who lost their mother to a senseless useless man,” Marty Castro wrote on a GoFundMe for the family. “Thank you all, this money will help them and help us to have my daughter’s funeral to remember I am devastated empty and more hurt than I ever thought I could be from the situation but thank you all for you helped us even at the worst moment of our lives.” People with information about the case can contact San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Deputy David Brandt at [email protected] or 650-333-8195. The investigation is ongoing.
