In the early morning hours of October 30, 2022, a horrific act of violence shattered the peace of an Aurora, Colorado, home, claiming the life of 22-year-old Hispanic female, Maria Anita Serrano. The tragic event unfolded at a residence on Geneva Street where Maria lived with her family. The perpetrator, Joseph Mario Castorena, the 21-year-old ex-boyfriend of Maria's twin sister, Jessica Serrano, broke into the home and laid in wait for the family to return.
The attack was a brutal culmination of domestic violence, as Jessica Serrano had obtained a protective order against Castorena just a week prior, citing threats to her life. When the family arrived home, Castorena opened fire, fatally shooting Maria Anita Serrano, her 51-year-old father Jesus Serrano, her 20-year-old boyfriend Kenneth Eugene Green Luque, and a 49-year-old neighbor, Rudolfo Salgado Perez, who had come to help. Jessica Serrano and her two young children with Castorena were present but physically unharmed.
Following the quadruple homicide, Joseph Castorena fled the scene, sparking a multi-agency manhunt. His escape was aided by his 22-year-old cousin, Carlos Casillas-Flores, and his 18-year-old brother, Juan Angel Castorena, who were both later arrested and charged with accessory to first-degree murder. After nearly six weeks on the run, Castorena was apprehended in Mexico in December 2022, a capture made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Aurora Police Department, the FBI, and Mexican authorities. A distinctive lion tattoo on his neck played a role in his identification.
Joseph Castorena was extradited back to Colorado to face justice. In May 2024, an Arapahoe County jury found him guilty on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for the attack on his ex-girlfriend. Subsequently, he was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole. During the sentencing, the judge condemned Castorena's actions as those of an 'insignificant, little man with a big gun.' Prosecutors highlighted his complete lack of remorse throughout the trial, noting that he blamed Jessica Serrano for his violent rampage until the very end.
