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A jury on Monday sentenced a 22-year-old Rio Hondo man to 55 years in prison for fatally stabbing a Harlingen teen 67 times.
In a news release, the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office said the jury sentenced Jesus Saldana to more than a half century in prison following a jury trial where he was convicted of murder.
Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 99 years.
The Harlingen Police Department initiated its investigation into the death of 15-year-old Alexandra Castillo on May 17, 2020, after an EMT driving down Bob Youker Street called 9-1-1 after he noticed vultures in the surrounding area, according to the release.
That’s where Harlingen police found Castillo’s lifeless body.
“The investigation later revealed she was a runaway and had been stabbed a total of 67 times throughout her body, with one of those stabs nearly decapitating her,” the release stated.
Investigators obtained video surveillance footage, which led them to Saldana.
“Upon being interviewed, Saldana confessed that he murdered the 15-year-old girl after sexually exploiting her,” the release stated. “He admitted he left her on the side of the road with no concern for the possibility that she could have survived.”
The DA’s Office said it is common for runaway children to be exploited.
“Saldana did just that, he exploited a girl that he saw as a possession rather than a person,” the release stated. He had no concern for the possibility that she could have lived, no concern for her family, and no concern that he had committed a crime.
“We have no idea what she could have done with the rest of her life because he ended any potential future she should have had.”
“Upon being interviewed, Saldana confessed that he murdered the 15-year-old girl after sexually exploiting her,” the release stated. “He admitted he left her on the side of the road with no concern for the possibility that she could have survived.”
In a statement, Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz said his office respects the jury’s decision not to follow its recommendation of 99 years in prison.
“We respect the jury’s decision and still think it sends a strong message that the good people of Cameron County will not stand for his horrid behavior. We will stand up for abused children in our community,” Sanez said. “May Saldana spend every single second of his sentence knowing that he is experiencing the consequences stemming from his own terrible and selfish choices.”
