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A California man has pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of his estranged wife, Rachel Castillo, bringing a dark conclusion to a case that began with her disappearance in 2022. Zarbab Ali, 30, entered the plea in a Ventura County courtroom, also admitting to a special allegation of necrophilia. The plea agreement averts a trial and ensures Ali will be sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison, with no possibility of appeal.
The case dates back to November 2022, when Rachel Castillo, a 25-year-old mother of two, was reported missing from her Simi Valley apartment. Her sister discovered a disturbing scene with a "significant amount of blood," though Castillo’s personal items, including her phone and car, were left behind. This sparked an intensive search that ended tragically several days later following the discovery of her remains in a remote part of the Antelope Valley. Ali, who shared two young children with Castillo, was quickly identified as the primary suspect and arrested shortly after.
Prosecutors revealed the disturbing details behind the crime, stating that Ali went to Castillo's home, stabbed her multiple times, and transported her body to the Antelope Valley, where he buried her. According to the District Attorney's office, he later returned to the burial site to commit the act of necrophilia. At the time of the murder, Castillo had an active restraining order against her ex-husband. The shocking plea deal included the admission to this post-mortem crime, a detail that has horrified the community.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko stated that the plea provides a measure of justice for Castillo's family, sparing them the trauma of a full trial. “The resolution of this case delivers justice for Rachel Castillo and her family,” Nasarenko said in a statement. Ali's confession and plea agreement brings legal closure to the case, though the community continues to mourn the violent loss of the young mother. Formal sentencing is expected next month.
