Man accused of beheading young mother with a samurai sword claims he killed his ex-girlfriend in self-defense



A California man accused of beheading his ex-girlfriend with a samurai sword now claims that he killed the young mother in self-defense.

Last September, a 27-year-old woman was found beheaded on the street outside of her home in San Carlos – a city on the San Francisco peninsula. The slain woman was identified as Karina Castro, a mother of two young children – ages 7 and 1.

Police arrested Jose Rafael Solano, also known as Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, on the same day as the crime. The 33-year-old was charged with the murder of Castro – who was Solano's ex-girlfriend and father of her youngest child.

In April, Castro obtained a restraining order against Solano, but she continued to interact with him, according to her family.

Snapchat messages between the pair reportedly ignited an argument and led to the young woman's death. Castro reportedly threatened to expose Solano's statutory rape conviction from 10 years ago and an alleged sexual relationship with another man.

According to Snapchat messages, Solano allegedly called her a "snitch lip," and threatened her, "F*** around and find out."

Hours later, Castro's body was found beheaded outside of her home.

Solano claimed that he went to Castro's house to de-escalate the situation.

Solano confessed that he wasn't happy that Castro began dating another man. He also claims that Castro put a hit on him, according to ABC7 News I-Team reporter Dan Noyes who interviewed Solano from the San Mateo County Jail.

Noyes reported, "He insists that Karina Castro told him that she had hired people from East Palo Alto to carry out a hit on him, his mother, and his brother."

Solano claimed that Castro was armed with a knife.

Noyes added, "He says she emerged from the driver's side of that Volkswagen with the knife in hand and kind of marched towards him with this knife. And he claimed that he swung that sword in self-defense."

Solano told Noyes that he used a "decorative" samurai sword, which he admitted the weapon had a "sharp edge."

San Mateo County district attorney Steve Wagstaffe disputed Solano's version of events, "We don't think that that accords with the evidence that we've been able to collect in this case so far."

Wagstaffe pointed out that there are no reports of Castro wielding a knife.

"We haven't had any reports of her being armed with a knife or anybody even seeing a knife, much less using a knife," he said.

In September, the case was suspended after Solano's attorney questioned whether he was competent to stand trial because of mental competency. Castro's father said that Solano was a "diagnosed schizophrenic on meds."

However on Jan. 26, a judge ruled that Solano is competent to stand trial after a mental competency evaluation. A preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin on March 1.

Solano faces 26 years to life in prison if convicted on the murder charge.

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CA man admits to beheading mother of 2 with samurai sword -- EXCLUSIVE www.youtube.com

Beheaded California mother identified. Day before her murder, she threatened to expose suspect's alleged relationship with another man. Grieving father speaks out.



New details have emerged in the gruesome murder of a California mother who was reportedly beheaded in broad daylight.

Police have identified the victim of the heinous murder as 27-year-old Karina Castro. She was the mother of two young children – aged 7 and 1.

Police said that around 11.50 a.m. on Thursday, Castro was allegedly beheaded by a man with a sword outside of her home in San Carlos – a city on the San Francisco peninsula.

Witnesses said they saw the nightmarish beheading murder.

Jose Raphael Solano Landaeta, who also goes by Rafa Solano, reportedly left the crime scene only to return minutes later. Police quickly arrested Landaeta for the murder.

Landaeta was confirmed to be Castro's ex-boyfriend and the father of her 1-year-old child.

Castro obtained a restraining order against Landaeta in April, but she continued to interact with him, according to her family.

Castro's family claimed that Landaeta had previously been violent with the mother of two.

Marty Castro, Karina's father, told KGO-TV, "If there's somebody out there abusing your daughter, don't take off. Don't let it go. Don't take no for an answer. You feel responsible, no matter what anyone says."

"Every time I saw her, I would beg her. Don't talk to him," the grieving father said. "Leave him and it seemed like the more I did that, the more she would see him."

The victim's grandmother, Danielle Gannon, said of Landaeta, "He is a diagnosed schizophrenic on meds. And he would use that as an excuse for his behavior. He drank excessively and you're not supposed to do that on those kind of medications."

KGO-TV said it had obtained more than a dozen Snapchat messages between Landaeta and Castro. In one message sent a day before her murder, Karina reportedly threatened to expose the suspect's alleged relationship with another man.

She threatens to tell the world about Solano's criminal record that includes a rape conviction involving a minor. He calls her "snitch lip" and warns her "F*** around and find out." Castro fires back, "U wanna put a target on my back, ur homies gunna kno the real u" and threatens to expose his sexual relationship with another man. She adds, "Dude, go head try and take my a** out." Just hours later, they had a confrontation in the street outside her apartment – her daughters safely inside.

The father said, "He got really mad, went to the trunk of his car, pulled out whatever it was, and killed her right there behind her car."

Marty Castro said, "She was an amazing girl."

The grandmother added that Karina "was an amazing woman, very stubborn, determined to raise her daughters on her own."

The family wants custody of Karina's two young children – who were put in the care of Child Protective Services following the mother's horrific death.

Gannon said, "I want those girls. That's what I want first, then I want Rafa to fry in jail. I don't care what happens to him."

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to "lessen the financial burden so that the Castro family can focus on healing."

"I just want to thank everyone who’s donated to help my daughter's kids, my beautiful grandchildren who have lost their mother to a senseless useless person," Marty Castro wrote in the crowdfunding campaign. "Thank you all, this money will help them and help us give my daughter a funeral to remember I’m devastated broken empty and more hurt than I ever thought I could be by the situation but thank you all for helping us and the worst time of our lives."

Landaeta – a 33-year-old aspiring rapper – will be arraigned in San Mateo Court on Monday.

Young CA mother beheaded on street identified, new info on suspect | ABC7 www.youtube.com

Young California mother beheaded in middle of street, man arrested for homicide



On Thursday afternoon in northern California, a 25-year-old mother was beheaded in the street outside her home. A suspect was arrested shortly after the incident, authorities reported.

Law enforcement sources told KGO-TV's investigative team that an adult male beheaded a young woman in front of witnesses in San Carlos, a city on the San Francisco Peninsula.

Broadcastify radio traffic and law enforcement records showed that police received reports around noon that a sword was used to cut off the woman's head.

The sheriff's department reported that the crime occurred at 11:50 a.m. in the street outside the woman's home.

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— San Mateo County S.O (@San Mateo County S.O) 1662675707

During a press briefing just hours after the incident, Lieutenant Eamon Allen said that he could not confirm the type of weapon used in the crime. Allen referred to the weapon as "a stabbing instrument" and stated authorities were still attempting to locate it.

"They arrived within minutes and found an obviously deceased female in the street in that area," said Allen during a Thursday press conference. "They began to work the scene and shortly then after, the male suspect arrived back at the scene and was quickly detained by sheriff's deputies. He was later placed under arrest for homicide. We can confirm that a stabbing instrument was used in the commission of the crime. That weapon is still outstanding."

Chapel Thorborne, a neighbor who said he had some interactions with the couple before the incident, stated the suspect returned to the scene shortly after committing the murder.

"After he cut her head off, he came walking up, him and his two friends," Thorborne said. "And they walked right by me and they arrested him."

Allen also reported that the suspect needed medical attention prior to being taken into custody, but he did not have specifics on the injury.

Sources told KGO-TV that the victim and the suspect were in an ongoing relationship. According to authorities, the young woman filed a restraining order in April against the suspect, Jose Solano Landaeta. Sources informed the news outlet that there was a history of domestic violence.

The victim's name has not yet been released.

Allen confirmed that the woman had two young children but that they were not present to witness the crime. KGO-TV's investigative team reported that sources said the kids were inside the house at the time of the murder.

The 7-year-old and 1-year-old girls were taken into custody by Child Protective Services. A dog and two cats were also taken from the home.

"Any time someone loses their life it's certainly a tragedy. 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," Allen said.

Law enforcement continued to work the scene Thursday evening. The investigation is still ongoing.