GUILTY IN - Jada Justice, 2, Gary, 16 June 2009

[mysticrose]

Detective: Castillo reacted with anger during questioning

A Hobart woman on trial for murder in the death of a Portage girl spit and swung at a Hobart police detective who was questioning her about the toddler's disappearance.

Engelica Castillo, 20, initially was hysterical and screaming at a gas station, 1401 E. Ridge Road, in Gary's Glen Park section on June 16, 2009, when she reported her cousin, Jada Justice, had been taken from her boyfriend's Cadillac Fleetwood.



Gary police officers said they weren't able to get much information from her beyond that she'd left the doors unlocked when she went inside to buy milk and cigarettes. When she came outside, the girl was missing, Castillo told them.

During questioning, Gary officers said it appeared Castillo was using opiates, in part because of her odd behavior.

Hobart police Detective David Grissom said he picked up Castillo from the Gary police station and began interviewing her after reviewing her Miranda rights, which Castillo waived.

Grissom said Castillo wasn't providing any helpful information, so he decided to push her a bit harder. He pulled out a photograph of Jada and accused her of having something to do with the girl's disappearance.

Castillo slapped the photo away and spit at Grissom. The detective said Castillo denied spitting at him, then said it was an accident

http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/2573594,new-castillo0807.article

 

[mysticrose]

Only jaded justice for Jada Justice's two accused killers
By Jerry Davichon August 8, 2010 12:26 AM

Timothy Tkachik told a court official last week that it was drugs that compelled him to take part in the brutal killing of 2-year-old Jada Justice.

I say bull - - - .

Tkachik faces a maximum 50-year sentence for taking part in the death of the toddler whose cherubic face is so familiar to us since last June when she reportedly was "abducted" by criminals.

We now know that Jada was abducted by her own 20-year-old cousin, Engelica Castillo, Tkachik's then-girlfriend and co-defendant in the ongoing court trial.

Together, they beat Jada to death, drove to Chicago to buy heroin with her dead body in tow, and later incinerated her body and encased it in concrete for burial in a swamp.

Tkachik admitted he "knuckled" Jada on her head as Castillo beat the girl to death, but God only knows what happened in that Hobart home on June 13. Despite the impressive work of police and prosecutors in this case, only two people know exactly what happened that day and they were both high on heroin.

But were they "out of their minds," as I'm often told by drug users who commit such heinous crimes? No, I don't buy that explanation for a minute. And please don't tell me I'm ignorant of drug-related behavior, blah, blah, blah...

http://blogs.post-trib.com/davich/2010/08/only-jaded-justice-for-jada-ju.html

 

[nervous_nellie]

these two people really make me ill ...

 

[mysticrose]

Castillo's demeanor changed, says FBI
Agents testified about conversations during Jada Justice trial on Monday

Engelica Castillo shifted from meek and childlike to adversarial adult when an FBI agent interviewing her about the disappearance of Jada Justice challenged her on cell phone calls she'd made.

Agent Theodore May said Castillo stomped her foot and shook her head, her voice grew louder and became verbally confrontational when May showed her cell phone records that showed she'd lied about phone calls she made after reporting the 2-year-old Portage girl had been abducted from a Gary gas station on June 16, 2009.


Prior to that, May told trial supervisor David Urbanski, Castillo had maintained she "knew she was took," referring to Jada. She never searched the woods near the gas station at 1401 E. Ridge Road, Gary, because a witness there did search. "He told me he'd done a good job so I left it at that," May recalled her saying

http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/2581010,new-castillo0810.article

 

[mysticrose]

Jail tapes reveal defendant's role in toddler's death
August 11, 2010


Prosecutors played tape recordings in which Engelica Castillo, on trial for murder in the death of 2-year-old Jada Justice, and her then-boyfriend and co-defendant are talking about how police can't prove their involvement in the crime.

"They can't even prove that we did that," Castillo said.

Timothy Tkachik apparently had trouble hearing her while they were housed in separate cells in the Hobart police department lockup, so Castillo repeats herself several times.

"They cannot prove that. Am I right?" she asked from her cell, which was separated from Tkachik's by a brick wall that didn't extend to the ceiling.

"No," Tkachik responded.

Castillo, 20, who faces life without parole if convicted, is heard on the tape telling Tkachik that no matter what, she won't turn on him. "You'll never turn on me. I'll never turn on you. Right?" she asks repeatedly.

"Yeah, baby," Tkachik responds, and later tells her he'd "never say nothing" about her

http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/2585332,new-castillo0811.article

 

[nums24]

Conviction in death of 2-year-old Jada Justice
Hobart woman convicted of murder, neglect and battery


http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-jada-justice-conviction-aug12,0,816629.story

 

[nums24]

Castillo guilty on all counts in Jada murder case

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_c3521c83-53e7-5bdd-9ea0-2ca7c7c36244.html

Justice is Served!

 

[nums24]

Cousin Found Guilty of Killing 2-Year-Old Girl

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38685979

<snipped>

The jury took about two hours to convict Castillo, 20, of Hobart, Ind., according to a statement from Lake County Prosecutor Bernard A. Carters office.

The jury recommended life in prison without parole for Castillo. Formal sentencing will be held on September 9th.

Tkachik, 25, of Hobart, pled guilty to two counts of neglect of a dependent in connection with Jada Justices death and faces a maximum term of 50 years in prison when he is sentenced Sept. 10.

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

 

[wasnt_me]

BF's sentencing delayed, according to:

http://www.post-trib.com/news/porter/2695710,pbrief0911.article


I'm not the lowest of the low, as the prosecutor has labeled me," Engelica Castillo says in court

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/justice-castillo-sentencing-102557924.html#ixzz0zNFO56VY

EC ranting either at or after her sentencing Sept 10th.

 

[mitzi]

With the attitude that Castillo has, she won't live long in prison. She'll open her disgusting mouth once too often to the wrong inmate....and I have to say that that will make me happy when it happens. She is an animal, and has no remorse for what she has done. I hope she rots! :furious:

 

[nervous_nellie]

Aside from shaking her foot nervously, Castillo displayed very little, if any, remorse. It was a point noted in the remarks from Justice's mother, Melissa Swiontek.
"She got what she deserved. She had so many chances, but she never said, 'I'm sorry,'" said Swiontek.


Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/justice-castillo-sentencing-102557924.html#ixzz0zOxImdxp


im glad that she got lwop - but it barely seems enough, imo. and she has the nerve to be angry about it. she will fit right in with all the other "innocent" losers in prison ...

 

[wasnt_me]

My 2 cents is that I really think the boyfriend delivered the crushing blows.

I think he was sick of the little girl, and I think that EC was spanking too hard and too much, but I think that the BF went in there when it was happening and adding his own whacks, which caused the girl's death.

No way am I letting EC off the hook, but I'm just convinced that the BF went in there and changed a child abuse situation into a murder. He's tried to paint himself as the hapless BF who just went along with EC, and I just don't buy it. She's responsible, but he is, too. That whole thing about him hitting the baby to make EC stop is ludicras. If you wanted to make EC stop, then hit EC, not the baby.

 

[Texas Mist]

Tkachik sentencing delayed again as prosecutors investigate another possible suspect in Jada Justice killing

CROWN POINT | Sentencing for Timothy Tkachik, co-defendant in the 2009 slaying of Portage toddler Jada Justice, has been continued to Jan. 21 because prosecutors are looking at another possible suspect in the case.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter on Thursday confirmed Tkachik's hearing was continued again due to the ongoing investigation.

"There's another individual we're looking at," he said, again declining to identify the suspect.

more here

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_5ad04bfd-6b05-534b-8f28-c7d82d2b30c6.html

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Another individual? Another possible suspect?? WTH?

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Well... in case anyone still follows this case...

The other individual is now known. It is Melissa Swiontek, Jada's mother.
She is being charged with neglect and if convicted can be sentenced to 20-30 years in jail.

Apparently she knew all about the drug dealing of Engelica and Tim, they lived with her for a while. She saw them bagging and she saw them selling.
And she left Jada with them. It had never been a problem, they never hurt any of her kids before.

Until they beat Jada to death. Then tried to burn her body. Then encased he in cement. Then threw the container in the swamp.


Jada's case archive is updated:

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Jada%20Justice%20%20-IN-/

 

[believe09]

I will never forget this case. This developement is absolutely no surprise.

 

[Kat]

Well... in case anyone still follows this case...

The other individual is now known. It is Melissa Swiontek, Jada's mother.
She is being charged with neglect and if convicted can be sentenced to 20-30 years in jail.

Apparently she knew all about the drug dealing of Engelica and Tim, they lived with her for a while. She saw them bagging and she saw them selling.
And she left Jada with them. It had never been a problem, they never hurt any of her kids before.

Until they beat Jada to death. Then tried to burn her body. Then encased he in cement. Then threw the container in the swamp.


Jada's case archive is updated:

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Jada%20Justice%20%20-IN-/

I have to admit I'm relieved and quite happy that this charge has been brought against her Mother.

Too often we see parents that leave their child with someone they know that either has a history of violence or a history of molestation or drug dealings---the list goes on and on.

If it can be proved that a parent knew these factors and still left their child with the person that kills them or harms them they should be held accountable. JMHO

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Some new things since this thread was last updated:

In August 2011, Melissa Swiontek entered a Not Guilty plea. Her trial is now scheduled for June 17, 2013. Since Tkachik is the main witness, his sentencing has been delayed... supposedly he will be sentenced June 28, 2013.

Mind you, he and Engelica killed Jada June 13, 2009. Because of him turning on Engelica and Melissa, he will get a deal. He faces 20-50 years, with possibly half cut off that.

As for co-killer Engelica Castillo, her attorney successfully got her life sentence thrown out by the Indiana Supreme Court. But in sweet justice, they sentenced her to 65 years in prison.

The Case Archive is updated as news comes along.
http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Jada%20Justice%20%20-IN-/

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Update since the last post...

Melissa's trial was moved to June 24, 2013.

Yesterday (June 19) her defense asked that charges be dropped.

Today (June 20) the judge dropped the most serious charge, but her trial will go forward on the lesser charges. She could still face jail time, but just a short sentence, not the 20-50 years.

Which is a moot point anyways because there is no way the prosecutor could prove Melissa gave Jada over to Tim and Engelica knowing they would harm her. They had babysat over 30 times without incident.

As always, the archive has been updated also.