Found Deceased CA - Rachel Castillo 25, At Risk, suspicious circumstances, significant blood found in home, Simi Valley, 10 Nov 2022

[Knox]

CBS Los Angeles​

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Simi Valley Police Department disclosed that officers were dispatched to a Rachel Castillo's home "for a call of suspicious circumstances." Jeff Nguyen reports.

<modsnip: referencing random FB comments>

 

[Megnut]

IMO. This looks like the act of an angry person not worried about clean up or staging, because they are not well known to the victim.

I'm stuck on the fact that she was moved from the scene of the violence. Why?

That's informative to me.

JMO

 

[Knox]

Castillo was last seen by her sister, Emily, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the apartment where they lived with Castillo’s two sons. Relatives told KABC that Castillo dropped the boys off with their father at some point during the day. When Emily Castillo returned home around 8:30 p.m Thursday, she saw the blood and called 911.

“I was running around the house to see if I could find her somewhere… I checked her bathroom, under her bed, her closet, my closet, the laundry room, my bathroom and my bedroom but she wasn’t anywhere in there,” she told KABC.

Police said Castillo’s relatives have been cooperative as has the father of her children. Court records show she initiated divorce proceedings earlier this year.

'Around the clock' search for Simi Valley mom after blood found in home

Simi Valley police are searching for a young mother who vanished from her home last week, leaving behind her keys, phone and 'a significant amount of blood.'

www.latimes.com

 

[Knox]

Rachel Castillo's family is combing over what investigators have already sifted through and trying to find the slightest answers into why she vanished.

Castillo, 25, has two young children, is studying to become a therapist and lives with her sister just a few miles down the road from their parents.

Emily Castillo, the sister, came home Thursday night and upon walking into their apartment she immediately saw blood -- a lot of it.

"As soon as I saw the blood, that's when I realized something wasn't right," Emily said. "So I called my mom to let her know to come over and then I immediately called 911."

Her mom arrived soon after and saw the mess firsthand. Rachel's phone, keys and car were all home without her.

Robyn says her first thought was that someone took her, but she doesn't know if that's what actually happened.

She added that Rachel dropped her sons off with their father earlier that morning. That was planned and they said they have no reason to believe he would've hurt her.

Simi Valley family desperate for answers after mother of 2 vanishes, leaving bloody scene at home

A Simi Valley family is desperate for answers after their loved one -- a mother of two children -- disappeared and left behind a bloody scene at her home.

abc7.com

 

[shefner]

It seems like an apartment complex would have surveillance cameras all around the area, making it easier to spot any potential perpetrator or their vehicle. The perp had to move a bloody Rachel out of her apartment in broad daylight. I feel like someone would have seen something or surveillance would have captured important information.

 

[katydid23]

Since her purse and things were back home, that probably means she left her ex-husband's home safely. That seems like a suspicious thing, that she had just been at his home. But the boys were there too so he probably has been cleared.

 

[Gardenista]

LA Times report

'Around the clock' search for Simi Valley mom after blood found in home

Simi Valley police are searching for a young mother who vanished from her home last week, leaving behind her keys, phone and 'a significant amount of blood.'

www.latimes.com

 

[mpnola]

I didn't notice the bruising at first. I, like Rachel, have very fair skin. A bad night's sleep can make me look like I have a black eye. However, I probably wouldn't be taking my own picture on a day like that. At least not without makeup! I wonder where this photo came from and how recently it was taken.

Does Rachel have any social media?

Except it's mainly one eye and there is a big lump on her forehead. And her eyes look concerned, to me. My son gets what they call "allergy shiners" from allergies, but it is balanced. Not on one and definitely not a lump.

 

[Knox]

Video interview with Rachel's Dad at link -

"It’s a violent abduction," said Castillo's father.

Simi Valley mother of 2 disappears from home, leaving bloody scene behind

When officers arrived at the Rachel Castillo's apartment, they noticed a significant amount of blood in the home, but she was nowhere to be found, the Simi Valley Police Department reported.

www.foxla.com

 

[azure]

I, too, am perplexed by the photo. As for Rachel being removed from the scene, people can lose a significant amount of blood and still live-much more than the average person would think. I imagine she was alive when she was removed from her home. The question is, could she survive this long without medical intervention?

 

[Balthazar]

IMO. This looks like the act of an angry person not worried about clean up or staging, because they are not well known to the victim.

This quote from the article tells it all: "There is no known threat to the general public."

 

[Rolypolyoly]

She surely looks beat up in that photo.

Agreed. That looks like a black eye.

 

[evilwise]

How much blood is "a significant amount"? I kind of suspect if there had been a gallon, her sister wouldn't have searched the apartment before calling the police.

That bruise on her face in the OP looks exactly like she got poked by the end of a 2x4 or cracked one with the butt of a rifle.

I wouldn't put too much stock in "no known public threat" from law enforcement, it seems like lately they always say that unless there's a spree killer actively murdering people.

 

[Lyanna]

It seems like an apartment complex would have surveillance cameras all around the area, making it easier to spot any potential perpetrator or their vehicle. The perp had to move a bloody Rachel out of her apartment in broad daylight. I feel like someone would have seen something or surveillance would have captured important information.

I "walked" round Country Club Drive on GMaps, looking for security cams - (apartments match image in one of the articles with the roofed car parking areas). Couldn't really see any cameras, only saw what looked like lights. Seems like a nice area.
As to getting Rachel out, maybe they "persuaded" her by saying they'd get her to hospital - or snuck her out in a holdall (thinking of Orsolya Gaal) - sorry for the mental image, she's small and light, so that could be possible

Missing mother of 2 found dead, ex-husband named primary suspect: Police

Rachel Castillo disappeared last week under suspicious circumstances from her home in Simi Valley, California.

abcnews.go.com

Moo

 

[Hope&Faith]

One news outlet reported that she is an advocate and helped victims of domestic violence. LE are probably working that angle also. Missing mother of 2 left 'significant amount of blood' in home before disappearance

 

[Snoopster]

According to public records and the location in the media, Rachel lives in an apt/condo. There has got to be ring and security cameras all over the place. No one heard or saw anything? Last seen by dad of the kids at pickup?

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Exactly. How would someone have gotten her out of the apartment if it was foul play and she was bleeding?

If she left of her own accord, I guess she could have covered up and walked out, but where would she go without her car?? This doesn't make sense.

 

[Knox]

Rachel's Father Chris is a retired FBI Special Agent, so I hope this is helpful to finding Rachel.

In the video at link, Chris says "lot's of blood on the floor, walls and ceiling". Rachel's Mom says "I know they (kids) had been picked up by their Father earlier in the day, because Rachel had texted me when that occurred".

Missing mother of 2 found dead, ex-husband named primary suspect: Police

Rachel Castillo disappeared last week under suspicious circumstances from her home in Simi Valley, California.

abcnews.go.com

What a terrifying situation, so hard to believe with the level of violence in the apartment, no one heard or saw anything. Look at the configuration in the video, common walls and two story.

Also curious why Rachel texted her Mom when pick-up occurred, was that normal or was there a reason for that?

 

[MinnyPin]

Rachel's Father Chris is a retired FBI Special Agent, so I hope this is helpful to finding Rachel.

In the video at link, Chris says "lot's of blood on the floor, walls and ceiling". Rachel's Mom says "I know they (kids) had been picked up by their Father earlier in the day, because Rachel had texted me when that occurred".

Missing mother of 2 found dead, ex-husband named primary suspect: Police

Rachel Castillo disappeared last week under suspicious circumstances from her home in Simi Valley, California.

abcnews.go.com

What a terrifying situation, so hard to believe with the level of violence in the apartment, no one heard or saw anything. Look at the configuration in the video, common walls and two story.

Also curious why Rachel texted her Mom when pick-up occurred, was that normal or was there a reason for that?

Blood on the ceiling is very concerning, this is not looking good at all.

 

[Marysmith]

Rachel's Father Chris is a retired FBI Special Agent, so I hope this is helpful to finding Rachel.

In the video at link, Chris says "lot's of blood on the floor, walls and ceiling". Rachel's Mom says "I know they (kids) had been picked up by their Father earlier in the day, because Rachel had texted me when that occurred".

Missing mother of 2 found dead, ex-husband named primary suspect: Police

Rachel Castillo disappeared last week under suspicious circumstances from her home in Simi Valley, California.

abcnews.go.com

What a terrifying situation, so hard to believe with the level of violence in the apartment, no one heard or saw anything. Look at the configuration in the video, common walls and two story.

Also curious why Rachel texted her Mom when pick-up occurred, was that normal or was there a reason for that?

Yes, I’m curious why she would text then too. That’s something that DV victims do sometimes with custody drop off and pick up’s. Ugh… this is a really bad situation. I so hope they find her alive and charge the person responsible asap.

 

[curiouser_]

Rachel's Father Chris is a retired FBI Special Agent, so I hope this is helpful to finding Rachel.

In the video at link, Chris says "lot's of blood on the floor, walls and ceiling". Rachel's Mom says "I know they (kids) had been picked up by their Father earlier in the day, because Rachel had texted me when that occurred".

Missing mother of 2 found dead, ex-husband named primary suspect: Police

Rachel Castillo disappeared last week under suspicious circumstances from her home in Simi Valley, California.

abcnews.go.com

What a terrifying situation, so hard to believe with the level of violence in the apartment, no one heard or saw anything. Look at the configuration in the video, common walls and two story.

Also curious why Rachel texted her Mom when pick-up occurred, was that normal or was there a reason for that?

I text my Mom a lot…just about little mundane things. It could be just that she and her Mom are close and communicate like that. OR more along where I think you’re going…there was a reason why Mom would want Rachel to ensure she was okay after the pick up. I have to say, I agree with the others - she looks pretty beat up in that photo.