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Rachel Castillo was a straight-A student.
Her father, Chris Castillo, said the 25-year-old Simi Valley native and the youngest of his three daughters, was a “go-getter, hard worker and over-achiever.”
Rachel was the first in the trio of siblings to learn to ride a bike, Chris said. Raised in a Catholic family, she attended St. Rose of Lima School in Simi Valley and La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks before receiving a full scholarship to UC Santa Cruz to study psychology and taking a job at a social services nonprofit.
“She finished high school with a 4.28 GPA. I didn’t even know you could get above a 4.0,” Chris said.
But her most important accomplishment was being a mother to her young sons, her father said.
Rachel particularly enjoyed working with Spanish speakers and the homeless community, Robyn said, to connect them to services they might not otherwise access.
"She wanted to help others," Robyn said.
At the time of her death, Rachel was studying in Pepperdine University's graduate program to become a marriage and family therapist, just like Robyn, who is currently completing her apprenticeship to become a licensed therapist.
"We talked a lot about that since she was following in my footsteps, going to the same universities that I did for undergrad and master's program," Robyn said.
Rachel should be remembered for how loving and caring she was as a mother, a daughter and a friend, Williams said.
“She radiated love and joy. She was just so bubbly,” the friend said. “I know she’s going to be watching over her boys as much as she can as they grow up.”
Rachel Castillo's loved ones shared their grief over the 25-year-old's murder.
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