The body of a 25-year-old woman who vanished from her Simi Valley apartment last week was found in the Antelope Valley on Sunday, and her ex-husband has been arrested in connection with her death, authorities said.
“[On Sunday, Nov. 13], detectives located human remains of an adult female in a remote location within the Antelope Valley. The detectives, along with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the remains as Rachel Castillo,” according to a news release from the Simi Valley Police Department.
“The primary suspect in this case is Rachel’s ex-husband, 25-year-old city of Hawthorne resident, Zarbab Ali. Mr. Ali was arrested this afternoon [Nov. 13] at his parent’s home in Victorville, in connection to Rachel’s homicide,” the news release continues.
Rachel Castillo was the mother of two young children. Her sister, Emily Castillo, called police on Thursday, Nov. 10, when she found a large amount of blood in the apartment they share in the Wood Ranch neighborhood of Simi Valley, officials said.
“Emily stated she arrived home… and found evidence that a struggle occurred inside… Rachel’s personal belongings, including her cell phone, car keys, and vehicle, were still at the location,” the news release states.
“Simi Valley Police Officers responded to the apartment and conducted a preliminary investigation. Based on evidence at the scene, officers suspected that a crime involving serious injury occurred. Rachel was entered into the Missing Persons System, and the SVPD Detective Bureau responded to the scene and took over the investigation,” the news release states.
Officials have not released any information on where in the Antelope Valley Rachel Castillo’s body was found or the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
“This case is still under investigation and some details cannot be released due to legal and investigative reasons. The Simi Valley Police Department will release additional details related to this case when it is available,” the news release states.
