Docs: Marine wanted to violate 11-year-old, kill family
GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The U.S. Marine accused of breaking into a Rockford-area home and stabbing a child multiple times told investigators that he planned to kill everyone inside, court documents show.
“This is as big as it gets. This case, it’s as scary as it gets. It’s as horrific as it gets. And it puts all of us in a fear zone like no other,” Judge Sara Smolenski said at 24-year-old Ricardo Perez Castillo’s arraignment Monday.
Appearing in court via video linkup from a Kent County jail cell and wearing a suicide prevention bib, Castillo was charged with assault with intent to murder, first-degree home invasion, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct and carrying a weapon with unlawful intent. Smolenski set his bond at $2 million cash.
“Cash only. That is how serious this court takes all of these charges,” the judge said of the bond.
“They’re probably the most serious charges we have,” Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker told News 8 Monday before the arraignment. “Assault with intent to murder is a life offense, home invasion is a 20-year, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct involving penetration is a 10-year, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent is a 5-year.”
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office says Castillo entered a home on Ella Terrace Court near Jericho south of Rockford around 3 a.m. Saturday.
“It seems to be something was unlocked here. It wasn’t like he kicked in the door, broke in, anything like that,” Becker said.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, video shows Castillo taking his shoes, socks and pants off once inside the home. It says that while in his underwear and a T-shirt, he grabbed a knife from the kitchen drawer and walked upstairs.
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The document said that Castillo admitted to breaking into the home with the intent to kill the entire family. Castillo told investigators that he tried the first couple of bedrooms but the doors were locked. When he got to the master bedroom, the document says, he found the two homeowners, so he shut the door and looked for an easier target.
When he went to the bedroom where the two girls were sleeping, Castillo said, he planned to kill her and have sex with her body, according to the court document. It said that he took his underwear off and began stabbing the 11-year-old. He stopped because of the girls screaming.
The homeowner confronted the attacker and held him at gunpoint until deputies arrived and arrested him, deputies said. He was found with a bloody knife next to him, court documents said.
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The 11-year-old victim — a friend of the homeowner’s daughter who was staying the night — was hospitalized. The probable cause affidavit said that she was stabbed in her left arm and shoulder and needed surgery. Undersheriff Bryan Muir confirmed she was last listed in stable condition.
“It just strikes close to home because they (kids) should be innocent, they shouldn’t have to worry about stuff like this,” Becker said. “We’re doing everything we can. We’re not going to stand for incidents like this to happen, and we’ll charge them and do what we can to make sure everybody stays safe.”
The sheriff’s office said Saturday morning the attack appeared to have been random, but a source told News 8 that aspect of the case remains under investigation.
“Fortunately, you don’t see the strangers breaking in like this on a very regular basis. I can’t say it never happens — obviously this is a case where it did happen, where all of a sudden, out of the blue, something like this happens,” Becker said.
Castillo also faces a misdemeanor charge of illegal entry for a separate incident on Saturday in Rockford. His bond for that charge has been set at 10% of $5,000.
The Michigan State Police database shows Castillo did not have a criminal record in Michigan prior to Saturday’s assault. He is scheduled to be back in court on June 26 for a probable cause conference.
He is a Marine corporal who was working as a recruiter out of the office on Celebration Drive NE in the area of the East Beltline and Knapp Street. The Marines say Castillo is an infantry rifleman who was deployed overseas at least twice and that he has several awards, including two personal awards: the Naval and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. The Marines say they are cooperating with the investigation.
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Becker and Muir advised everyone to lock their doors and windows, be vigilant and watch out for their neighbors.
“Certain places just think they’re immune. Certain places think, ‘It can’t happen here,’ but bad things happen anywhere. … It’s prudent to make sure you’re taking whatever steps you can to prevent it,” Becker said.
Anyone who sees something suspicious is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 616.632.6100.
—News 8’s Susan Samples and Rachel Van Gilder contributed to this report.
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