In a quiet duplex on Alexandria Drive in Lexington, Kentucky, the life of 33-year-old Elaine Kaheya Castillo was cut tragically short. On the morning of February 10, 2020, police were called to her home, where they were met by her young son. He led them to a back bedroom where they discovered his mother's body, bearing the horrific marks of a violent struggle.
An autopsy would later reveal that she had suffered from major blunt force trauma to her skull and had lacerations on her hands, defensive wounds from a fight for her life. The night before, a heated argument had erupted between Elaine and her 25-year-old boyfriend, Kevin Velasco-Gomez, after she reportedly discovered he had been with another woman.
In the immediate aftermath of the discovery, both Velasco-Gomez and Elaine's green Ford Expedition were missing from the residence. The search for him did not last long. He was apprehended by state police in Franklin the following day. During an interview with investigators, conducted with the assistance of an interpreter, Velasco-Gomez admitted to the argument. He claimed that Elaine had pulled a knife on him, and he remembered seeing her covered in blood, knowing that she was dead. After the altercation, he packed his belongings, locked the bedroom door, and fled in her vehicle.
Kevin Velasco-Gomez was initially charged with murder in connection with Elaine Castillo's death. However, in a subsequent plea deal, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of first-degree manslaughter and evidence tampering. The murder weapon was later found by investigators under a dresser in the apartment. During his sentencing, Elaine's grieving family had the opportunity to confront him, expressing their profound pain and questioning the senseless violence that had stolen their loved one from them. In March 2023, a judge sentenced Velasco-Gomez to a total of 16 years in prison for his role in the brutal end to Elaine Castillo's life.
