Fugitive Kills Wife

Fire Department finds wife deceased in master bedroom of home.

October 5, 2010

TEXAS FUGITIVE NEWS -- Juan J. Castillo is most wanted by the Harris County Sheriff's Department and the Houston Police Department (HPD) Homicide Division. Castillo is charged with the murder of his common law wife, 36-year-old Monica Victoria Leija in Houston, Texas. Juan J. Castillo a.k.a. "Cruz" should be considered armed and dangerous.

Additionally, it is believed Juan J. Castillo shot his wife and left her to die inside their home at 5330 Jezebel Street in Houston, Texas. Afterward, Castillo fled the area in Leija's car, a green four-door 1997 Infiniti I-30 with Texas license plates BC9R855.

HPD Officers, E. H. Schmidt and J. E. Rodriguez assigned to the Homicide Division released the following statement concerning the murder:

Ms. Leija was last seen when she went to work on February 4, 2010. Family members contacted HPD patrol officers after they had been unable to make contact with Leija over the phone and when she did not show up for work on February 5, 2010. Officers and Houston Fire Department personnel went to Leija's residence on Tuesday and found her deceased in the master bedroom.

Juan J. Castillo a.k.a. "Cruz" is described as:

• Birth Date: July 7, 1980
• Height: 69 inches
• Weight: 225 pounds
• Eyes: Brown
• Hair: Black
• Sex: Male
• Race: Hispanic
• Warrant Number:1251286

Lastly, Harris County 177th District Court has issued the warrant for Juan J. Castillo's arrest. Anyone with information about this homicide or the location of fugitive Juan J. Castillo is asked to contact your local law enforcement, the Harris County Sheriff's Office Warrants Division at 713-755-6055, HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600, or anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.