GRAND JURY CHARGES BRONX MAN WITH MURDER IN THE STABBING DEATH OF HIS FIANCÉ

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a grand jury has charged 23 year old Rafael Severino Castro with murder and other offenses in the stabbing death of 22 year old Vanessa Reynoso and the wounding of her 48 year old mother.

The grand jury indicted Castro, of 1013 Freeman Street. on two counts of Murder in the 2nd degree, one count of Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree, two counts of Assault in the 1st degree, one count of Assault in the 2nd degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th degree and Endangering the welfare of a child.

Castro, who fled to the Dominican Republic following the fatal stabbing, is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in State Supreme Court, Part A, on Monday, June 21, 2004.

The incident occurred in the victim’s apartment on May 13, 2004 when, according to court papers, Vanessa Reynoso was “stabbed numerous times in the head and neck, thereby causing her death”. It is also alleged that Castro “struck Miriam Rivas in the head with a sharp object, thereby causing serious physical injury” to his fiancé’s mother. The bloody attack occurred in the presence of the defendant’s six year old and eighteen month old daughters.

Castro is facing a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life imprisonment if convicted of the most serious charge Murder in the 2nd degree, and a maximum sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment on the charges of Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree and Assault in the 1st degree.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lorenz of the Domestic Violence Bureau.