Wife of alleged hostage-taker says she wasn’t hurt

Gordon Aldan Castro, the 27-year-old man who allegedly held his family hostage for seven hours at his house in Afetnas, was already sleeping when members of the Department of Public Safety’s Special Enforcement and Action Section entered the house on Sunday morning.

Police detective Therese S. Kintoki stated in her report that when SEAS officers got into the house at 5:46am, Castro was asleep on the couch beside his common-law wife while their two minor children were on the other side of the couch.

Kintoki said the wife and two children, ages 9 and 3 years old, were escorted out and were examined by medics, while Castro was arrested and brought to the Department of Corrections.

Castro allegedly held a kitchen knife to his wife’s neck, threatened to kill her if police wouldn’t leave, and refused to release his two children during the seven-hour hostage drama that began on Saturday at 10:42pm.

At a bail hearing yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed a $26,500 cash bail and set the preliminary hearing for Oct. 6 at 1:30pm.

Castro faces charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace. Assistant public defender Cindy Nebit was appointed as his counsel.

Assistant attorney general Shannon Foley appeared for the government.

When Camacho directed Castro to have no contact with his wife and children, the wife, who was seated in the courtroom, asked why her husband couldn’t have any contact with her, saying she was not hurt during the incident.

Camacho stopped the wife from making further comments. Nebit later talked to the wife.

Kintoki said two police officers arrived at Castro’s house on Saturday at 11:12pm after DPS Central received a call about a disturbance at 10:42pm.

Kintoki said one officer opened the door and heard Castro talking in a loud voice. When the officer called out Castro’s name, Castro responded by telling the officer to call more officers because he was holding his family hostage. Castro told the officer that he had a weapon and that his family was with him.

The officer called DPS Central to request for back up. At 11:42pm, three more officers arrived. One officer heard a girl saying, “Let go of my mommy. Don’t hurt my mommy!”

Police officer Rudolfo Hermosilla Jr. knocked on the door and identified himself. Hermosilla heard children crying and a woman, later identified as Castro’s common-law wife, saying “You’re hurting me, let me go!”

A little girl was heard saying, “What are you doing to my mommy, let my mommy go, you’re hurting my mommy!”

Hermosilla knocked on the door and asked Castro if he was okay.

Castro responded that he was not okay and that someone is going to die that day. He stated he had a weapon—a knife.

The wife was then heard saying that Castro was hurting her.

The girl told the officer that she’s 9 years old and that with them is her 3-year-old brother.

Hermossila positioned four officers at the door and, upon opening it, he saw Castro sitting on the sofa with his forearm on the neck of his wife and her back against his chest. Castro was holding a knife with his right hand pressed against the side of his wife’s neck.

Castro told Hermosilla that he’s going to kill her. The officer told him to put the knife down. The girl, who was crying, was sitting on the floor to Castro’s left.

Hermosilla closed the door and told the other officers to pull back. He heard the girl again, begging Castro not hurt her mother.

Hermosilla told Castro to relax and put the knife down because he already closed the door. He kept talking to Castro, resulting in the suspect calming down.

Hermosilla tried to convince Castro to release the children, but he kept saying “no.”

Castro later stated that the children were already sleeping. The wife already sounded calm as she was talking to Hermosilla.

Crime scene technician officer Jeffrey Bahillo arrived and negotiated with Castro. Bahillo gave Castro his cellphone number so they could communicate.

At 5:46am, SEAS officers entered the house and arrested Castro.