A former Marine recruiter will spend many years in prison for a shocking attack on an 11-year-old girl. Ricardo Perez Castillo, who is 25 years old, broke into a home in Michigan and stabbed the girl while she was having a sleepover.
The attack happened on June 15, 2024. Castillo pleaded no contest in court, which means he didn’t admit he was guilty, but he didn’t fight the charges either. He was charged with trying to kill the girl, breaking into the house, and attacking her with the intent of committing a sex crime.
During the sentencing, the judge, Christina Mims, said the case was like “a real-life horror movie.” She said it was only by luck that the girl wasn’t killed.
The young victim wrote a letter that was read in court. She remembered being in a lot of pain and seeing blood everywhere. She was scared and didn’t understand why it happened to her. She never thought a simple sleepover would end with her in the hospital.
Prosecutors said that Castillo entered the home through a side door and grabbed a knife from the kitchen. He then went upstairs and found the room where the girl and her friend were sleeping. He stabbed the 11-year-old multiple times until the girl’s father stopped him.
Castillo told the police that he was going to stab her in the neck. He also said he was going to try and kill the whole family. He even said he was going to try and sleep with the girl after she was dead.
At the sentencing, Castillo asked for forgiveness. He said he was sorry for all the pain he caused and that he had found God. He kneeled in court and begged for forgiveness from the girl, her family, and the whole community.
