SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating a homicide after a South Florida mother went missing, and officials believe her daughter is behind the crime.
The family tragedy has left the community stunned as Miami-Dade Police continue to investigate a homicide at a home near Southwest 224th Street and 127th Place, Wednesday.
Police were initially called to the scene Tuesday afternoon because family members were concerned that they hadn’t seen or heard from 70-year-old Hilda Gonzalez.
However, when they arrived on scene, police found charred clothing in the yard and what appeared to be bones in the trash. Officials said the bones belonged to the 70-year-old who was killed and burned in the yard.
Neighbors said the victim lived at the house with her daughter, 29-year-old Sasha Gonzalez, and her daughter’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Yancel Castillo. They are both accused of killing Hilda and are now in jail.
Police arrested Gonzalez and Castillo, charging Gonzalez with murder and Castillo with tampering with evidence and the abuse of a human body with a weapon.
Police said Hilda was suffocated inside her home around midnight Sunday, but they weren’t called to the home until days later. It all began with an argument over Castillo’s brother, 21-year-old Santy Castillo, who was a house guest.
According to officials, after Gonzalez was arrested, she admitted to the crime. The arrest report read in part, “Santy Castillo then entered the victim’s bedroom and began to open a large black trash bag. The defendant then raised the victim’s head in order to facilitate Santy Castillo placing the trash bag over the victim’s head and suffocating her.”
Officials said the Castillo brothers tried to burn the body in the yard the following day.
The report stated, “The defendant then observed the co-defendant gather three branches and providing them to Santy Castillo who was stacking them in a pile atop the victim. Santy Castillo then lit the branches ablaze in order to burn the victim’s body.”
It’s a crime on a quiet street that has left neighbors in shock.
“To find out that someone died there by the hands of another person, it’s really terrifying,” said neighbor Miranda Reinike. “It’s really scary. Nothing ever happens in our neighborhood.”
Neighbor Naidyt Hernandez was also shocked by the news.
“It’s horrible to think that someone could do something like this, especially to someone that they know, that they were family with,” Hernandez said. “It’s just, it’s scary.”
Police said Castillo’s brother is currently being questioned at the police department. He has not been officially charged.
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