U.S. Extradites to El Salvador Southern California Man to Face Charges of Murdering Woman in Front of Infant Son, Whom He Abandoned

A Southern California man has been extradited from the United States to El Salvador to face charges of murder and child abandonment stemming from a 2019 incident, according to a release from DOJ Press Releases.

Michael Alejandro Castillo Murga, 27, of Beaumont, was surrendered to Salvadoran authorities following extradition proceedings handled through federal courts in California and intervention by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Incident Overview

According to El Salvadoran authorities and court records, the case began on Feb. 1, 2019, when law enforcement discovered the body of a woman near a highway in El Salvador. Three days later, farm workers discovered a toddler under the age of two years old in the vicinity of the murder scene. The child was found severely dehydrated, hungry, and showing signs of physical abuse. Investigators later determined the boy was the son of the victim and Castillo Murga.

Authorities state that on the evening of Jan. 31, 2019, Castillo Murga picked up the victim and their son from her mother's house under the guise of starting a life together. Prosecutors allege he then murdered the victim in the back seat of a vehicle and abandoned their toddler son in a rugged area. An autopsy revealed the victim died from a massive hemorrhage resulting from cuts to the veins in her neck caused by a plastic knife. Witnesses reported seeing a tall, thin person attacking a woman in the back seat of a gray vehicle while she kicked and screamed.

Timeline of Events

1. January 31, 2019: Castillo Murga picks up the victim and their son from her mother's house and allegedly kills her later that evening, abandoning the toddler at the scene.
2. February 1, 2019: Salvadoran authorities discover the body of the female victim near a highway.
3. February 2, 2019: Castillo Murga allegedly flees El Salvador for Guatemala with the help of his grandmother and a lawyer, later entering the United States.
4. February 5, 2019: Farm workers discover the surviving toddler, who is subsequently hospitalized for severe dehydration and signs of child abuse.
5. October 2024: The United States arrests Castillo Murga following an extradition request from the Government of El Salvador.
6. July 28, 2025: U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym certifies Castillo Murga's extradition.
7. November 5, 2025: U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb denies a petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by the suspect.
8. September 24, 2026: Judge Holcomb denies a request for a stay of extradition, paving the way for the suspect's surrender.
9. Wednesday: Castillo Murga is surrendered to Salvadoran authorities.

Suspect Information

Michael Alejandro Castillo Murga, 27, is a dual U.S. and Salvadoran citizen residing in Beaumont, California. Court records indicate he had been in U.S. custody since October 2024 while fighting extradition. Records also detail that following the alleged crime, Castillo Murga contacted his girlfriend and sent a photograph of himself with blood stains on his face and neck, while relatives and legal counsel allegedly attempted to wash blood from the interior and exterior of his vehicle.

Victim Information

The adult female victim was in a romantic relationship with the suspect that began in 2014, giving birth to their son in 2017. Her name was not released in the press release. Their surviving son, who was under the age of two at the time of the offense, suffered from severe dehydration, starvation, cuts on his face, dry lips and nose, and insect bites after being abandoned in a rugged area for approximately four days.

Police Response

Salvadoran law enforcement responded to the initial discovery of the victim's body on Feb. 1, 2019, and subsequently investigated the recovery of the abandoned toddler on Feb. 5, 2019, after being contacted by local farm workers. Medical personnel treated the toddler for severe dehydration, starvation, and environmental exposure.

Investigation

The international investigation involved Salvadoran law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Digital forensics placed Castillo Murga's cellular telephone in the area of the murder at the time of death, and eyewitness testimony corroborated an attack inside a vehicle. Investigators also uncovered efforts by associates to conceal evidence by washing blood from the suspect's car.

Evidence Collected

• The body of the adult female victim recovered near a highway.
• A plastic knife found at the crime scene used in the attack.
• Cellular telephone data placing the suspect at the scene of the murder.
• Witness observations of an assault inside a gray vehicle.
• Photographic evidence sent by the suspect showing blood on his face and neck.
• Forensic blood evidence recovered from the interior and exterior of the suspect's vehicle, despite attempts to wash it away.
• Medical evaluations of the toddler documenting severe dehydration, starvation, and physical abuse.

Arrest Details

Following his flight from El Salvador to Guatemala and subsequent entry into the United States, Castillo Murga was arrested in October 2024 by the U.S. Marshals Service for the Central District of California pursuant to an extradition request by the Government of El Salvador. He remained in U.S. custody through extradition hearings, habeas corpus proceedings, and appeals until his surrender on Wednesday.

Charges Filed

• Aggravated Feminicide: A specialized statutory charge in various jurisdictions covering the intentional killing of a woman on account of her gender or within a domestic context, carrying severe penal consequences.
• Imperfect Homicide: A legal classification often pertaining to attempted murder or homicide where certain elements of premeditation or completion are modified under specific penal codes.

Court Information

Extradition proceedings took place in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym certified the extradition on July 28, 2025. U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb subsequently denied a petition for a writ of habeas corpus on November 5, 2025, and denied a request for a stay of extradition on September 24, 2026. The case number was not released. Castillo Murga now faces prosecution in the courts of El Salvador.

Statements from Authorities

The Department of Justice noted the collaborative international effort behind the legal proceedings. Trial Attorneys Reena T. Mittelman and Amanda Matey Pyles of the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Lulejian handled the matter, while the U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in transporting and transferring the suspect to Salvadoran authorities.

Public Safety Information

Child abuse and domestic violence are severe crimes with profound community impacts. Individuals experiencing or witnessing domestic violence or child endangerment are encouraged to seek immediate help. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support regarding domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. For concerns regarding missing or abused children, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

What Happens Next

With his extradition complete and surrender to Salvadoran authorities finalized, Castillo Murga will face formal court arraignment, evidentiary hearings, and trial proceedings within the judicial system of El Salvador to adjudicate the pending charges against him.