Woman beheaded In Street Identified, Suspect was Ex-Boyfriend

A California woman who was beheaded on the street in San Carlos, was identified by her family and her father is sharing how he begged his daughter to leave the suspect.

On Thursday, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office issued a news alert, stating that an adult male was in custody for a woman’s murder.

Earlier that morning, witnesses had flagged down police near Magnolia and Laurel about an assault currently taking place, police said in its release.

Once officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a woman who had died. Shortly after, the suspect came back to the scene and was arrested for her murder.

The victim was identified as 27-year-old Karina Castro, a mom to two girls, 7 and 1. She was a student at Menlo-Atherton High School and earned her GED. At the time of her death, she worked as a DoorDash driver.

The suspect taken into custody was identified as 33-year-old Jose Landaeta Solano, who also goes by Rafa Solano. He was Karina’s ex-boyfriend and the father to her 1-year old.

Karina was granted a restraining order against Landaeta in April, but still saw him.

Karina’s father, Marty Castro said he took every chance to try to stop her from seeing Landaeta.

“Every time I saw her, I would beg her. Don’t talk to him. Leave him and it seemed like the more I did that, the more she would see him. She was an amazing girl, Marty said.

Karina’s grandmother Danielle Gannon said similar sentiments as she spoke about her granddaughter. “Karina was an amazing woman, very stubborn, and determined to raise her daughters on her own.”

She alleged that Landaeta suffered from mental health issues and alcoholism.

“He is a diagnosed schizophrenic on meds. And he would use that as an excuse for his behavior. He drank excessively and you’re not supposed to do that on those kind of medications,” Gannon said.

Snapchat messages between Karina and the suspect that were obtained for evidence and show were she threatened to expose his alleged relationship with another man. They later had an altercation outside of her home.

“He got really mad, went to the trunk of his car, pulled out whatever it was and killed her right there behind her car,” Marty said.

Neighbors watched as the couple had a loud dispute in the middle of the street. Authorities say that the boyfriend allegedly used a sword to violently cut off the mother’s head, with her children just feet away inside their shared apartment. 

One neighbor, Chapel Thorborne, described the scene to news media reporters. “The head was underneath the car and she was laying in back of the car, just severed, and then they covered her up.”

Karina’s family learned about the incident in the media. Marty said he rushed to the scene and explained how he was told his daughter was the victim.

“When the deputy walked up, he would not confirm who it was. But I said that she owned that black Volkswagen. He said yeah, that’s her car. I said, ‘That’s my daughter.’ “

The family is also fighting for Karina’s two daughters to be reunited with them as they were taken by authorities after she was killed.

“I want those girls. That’s what I want first, then I want Rafa to fry in jail. I don’t care what happens to him,” Karina’s grandmother said.

Marty also reached out to animal control to try and get Karina’s dog and two cats that were recovered from inside her home.

In a warning to other parents, the mourning father added, “If there’s somebody out there abusing your daughter, don’t take off. Don’t let it go. Don’t take no for an answer. You feel responsible, no matter what anyone says.”

Landaeta will be arraigned on Monday.

A GoFundMe set up for Karina said that she was “tragically beheaded on Thursday” and that her family “is broken hearted by her gruesome murder.” As of Friday night, the page has raised over $12,600 of its $25,000 goal.