Marine recruiter charged with home invasion, stabbing 11-year-old girl

A 24-year-old Marine recruiter faces a trial on allegations that he broke right into a Michigan house, stabbed an 11-year-old woman and mentioned he deliberate to “kill everybody inside.”

Cpl. Ricardo Perez Castillo waived his proper to a preliminary listening to Wednesday, which strikes his case involving felony expenses of assault with intent to homicide, first-degree house invasion, assault with intent to commit felony sexual conduct and carrying a weapon with illegal intent to the Kent County, Michigan, seventeenth Circuit Court docket for a possible trial.

Prosecutors allege primarily based on witness testimony and a police investigation that Castillo entered a house within the River Bluffs group of Rockford, Michigan, at round 3 a.m. on June 15, stripped all the way down to his underwear and a shirt, took a knife from the kitchen and stabbed an 11-year-old woman who was a pal of a lady who lived on the residence, FOX 17 West Michigan reported.

Castillo stopped stabbing the woman when she and her pal started screaming. He was held at gunpoint by the home-owner till police arrived. She suffered wounds to her left arm and shoulder and was handled at a neighborhood hospital.

Kent County Sheriff’s deputies discovered Castillo within the woman’s bed room with a bloody knife subsequent to him, in keeping with court docket data reported by each ABC native affiliate Channel 13 and native NBC affiliate Channel 8 Wooden TV.

“Video exhibits Ricardo (Castillo) getting into the (River Bluffs) residence and taking his sneakers, socks, and pants off,” in keeping with the arrest report, native ABC affiliate Channel 13 reported. “Ricardo (Castillo), with solely his underwear and T-shirt, grabbed a knife from the kitchen drawer and walked upstairs.

Castillo’s intent was to interrupt into the home and kill your entire household, in keeping with the report.

“Ricardo (Castillo) acknowledged that he tried the primary couple bed room doorways, however they have been locked,” the report acknowledged. “Ricardo then opened the main bedroom door and positioned (the home-owner) and his spouse asleep.”

He determined to search for an “simpler goal,” in keeping with the report.

“Ricardo (Castillo) then went into the room the place (the woman) was sleeping,” wrote the deputy. “Ricardo acknowledged to detectives that he deliberate to kill (her) and have intercourse along with her … physique.”

However that home wasn’t his first cease that evening.

About an hour earlier than Castillo allegedly entered the River Bluffs, Michigan, house, a close-by home-owner was cleansing up his home after a cocktail party and went to the rear of the house to carry some objects inside from his deck when he noticed a stranger by his kitchen sink.

He requested the person, who police later recognized as Castillo, who he was, why he was in his home and to go away.

The person mentioned Castillo walked towards the door however stopped and mentioned, “‘I don’t even (expletive) know what the (expletive) is occurring, however simply in case, simply watch out. Be sure to’re armed.’ At that time I slammed the door shut and referred to as police,” Channel 8 Wooden TV reported.

Castillo was arrested on felony expenses and is being held within the Kent County, Michigan, jail on a $2 million bond.

“This case, it’s as scary because it will get, it’s as horrific because it will get and it places all of us in a concern zone like no different,” mentioned District Decide Sara J. Smolenski throughout his listening to.

Castillo, a local of Waterford, Michigan, greater than two hours away, has served as a canvassing recruiter out of the Marine’s Lansing recruiting station since October 2023.

He holds an infantry major army occupational specialty and beforehand served with 2nd Battalion, sixth Marine Regiment, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Marine Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bobby Yarbrough, a Marine spokesman, advised Marine Corps Occasions in an e mail response Thursday.

Police advised native media that Castillo had been consuming alcohol earlier within the night and was seen in downtown Rockford, Michigan, greater than a mile from the home.

Marine officers weren’t conscious of any disciplinary actions towards the corporal and Michigan police discovered no prior felony convictions towards Castillo within the state, in keeping with native media.

The Marine Corps deferred touch upon the case and provided an announcement to media.

“We’re deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred. The case is at the moment being adjudicated within the Michigan court docket system, and it might be inappropriate to touch upon the main points of the case at the moment. Our hearts exit to the sufferer’s household and family members throughout this extremely tough time.”

Police advised native media shops that at the moment the act seems “completely random,”and so they haven’t discovered any connection between Castillo and people on the residence.