When Castillo did not return home, her sister discovered what investigators later described as a crime scene: a large quantity of blood inside the apartment, along with Castillo’s keys, car, and cellphone. Authorities were alerted immediately, launching a multi-agency investigation.
Zarbab Ali Confession and Conviction
On Nov. 13, 2022, FBI agents and Simi Valley Police located Castillo’s body buried in a shallow grave in a remote desert area of Antelope Valley. Ali was arrested later that same day outside his parents’ home in Victorville, California, according to the district attorney.
During multiple interviews with detectives, Ali confessed to the killing, the Ventura County Star reported. He told investigators that after dropping off the children with his parents, he went to Castillo’s apartment, found the door unlocked, and waited inside.
Ali admitted he stabbed Castillo three times when she entered her bedroom. He then wrapped her body in a blanket and buried her in a remote location. The following day, he returned to the grave, dug up her body, and raped her remains.
