SJ man suspected of fatally stabbing ex-girlfriend tried to turn self in
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU and wires) - A San Jose homicide suspect who was taken into custody Monday had tried to turn himself in earlier that day at the troubled county jail, but was turned away according to authorities.
Investigators on Wednesday said 28-year-old Hugo Castro entered the Santa Clara County Main Jail lobby on West Hedding Street in San Jose Monday morning. He told a custody support assistant that he wanted to turn himself in, sheriff's Sgt. James Jensen said.
The employee thought Castro was handing himself over on a court order and found no record or warrants for him, Jensen said.
The worker notified a correctional deputy, who asked Castro if he had any arrest warrants, according to Jensen.
Castro passed a note through a glass window to the support assistant with information on the homicide and the correctional deputy directed him to San Jose police headquarters, just around the block from the jail, without an escort, according to Jensen.
Castro didn't state he was responsible for the death or that took part in a crime, Jensen said.
"The Custody Deputy has been reassigned from his current position at the Main Jail pending the final outcome of the internal investigation into his actions," Sheriff Laurie Smith said in a statement Wednesday.
The Santa Clara County Main Jail is the same facility that has been under fire for treatment of prisoners. Three correctional deputies are currently facing homicide charges for the death of 31-year-old Michael James Tyree, who died in custody at the jail.
Castro went to San Jose police headquarters where he gave a handwritten note to officers regarding a body at The Globe, an apartment building on South Third Street, Smith said.
Patrol officers conducted a welfare check at the address and the property manager gave officers access to one of the units, where they found Barlas laying on a bed, Smith said.
The officers found multiple stab wounds in her front torso, according to Smith.
Police at headquarters were informed of the grisly discovery and subsequently arrested Castro, Smith said. Castro told investigators that he and Barlas had previously dated and she agreed to meet him at the apartment on Friday.
Castro confessed to strangling Barlas and fatally stabbing her with the knife while inside the unit, Smith said.
Castro, a San Jose resident, was arraigned Wednesday on a murder charge with an enhancement of personal use of a dangerous weapon, a knife, Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney David Boyd said.
The victim has been identified as 27-year-old Allessandra Alaine Barlas, according to a statement of facts filed in the case by police Detective Wayne Smith.
Castro made his initial appearance before Superior Court Judge Diane Northway at the Hall of Justice in San Jose Wednesday afternoon.
Castro, who appeared in a red jail uniform, did not enter a plea and remains in custody without bail. He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 16.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Smith or Detective Sgt. Rick Yu at (408) 277-5283.