In a taped interview obtained by the Ventura County Star, Ali made a statement that jurors later heard during the trial: “If I didn’t commit to being a monster, then she would have died for no reason. I am a monster.”
Zarbab Ali Motive and Obsessive Jealousy
Prosecutors said Ali told detectives he was motivated by jealousy over Castillo’s relationships with other men and anger over their custody arrangement and child support obligations. He also expressed dissatisfaction with his living situation following the separation.
Castillo, meanwhile, was described by family members as a devoted mother with a promising future. At the time of her death, she was studying for a master’s degree in clinical psychology and planned to become a marriage and family therapist, according to KTTV.
Ali’s sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2026. The case has drawn national attention, with coverage from outlets including People magazine, which detailed the jury’s verdict and Ali’s confession, and the New York Post, which highlighted the shocking nature of the crime and Ali’s own words describing himself as a “monster.”
