A 2004 cold case arrest for murder brings other cases to light in Fresno County

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A lawsuit gone acold is present getting answers successful Fresno County and bringing different acold cases into the airy with it.

In the aboriginal greeting of October 31, 2004, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office says 43-year-old Barbara Lee's assemblage was recovered successful a ungraded tract adjacent California and Polk avenues.

Finding her slayer would instrumentality decades and DNA breakthroughs.

In a property league Friday morning, Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni stood successful beforehand of a surface with 5 mugshots of the aforesaid man, Robert Castillo, which showed him aging implicit 30 years.

"Castillo has an extended transgression past dating backmost to 1981. He served situation sentences successful the mid-1980s, precocious 1990s, and mid-2000s for felony spot crimes," said Zanoni.

The latest mugshot was added connected April 10th for intersexual battle and murder.

During the media briefing, Barbara Lee was shown successful a licence photograph from earlier her beingness was chopped short.

After his arrest, different acold cases began to lukewarm up.

"There was besides different unfortunate that was identified that helium had victimized successful September, September 9th specifically of 2004 wherever helium volition beryllium charged with 1 number of rape," said Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp.

"A 3rd unfortunate from an incidental arising retired of October 5th of 2003 helium volition beryllium charged with 1 number of rape."

There's a 3rd rape lawsuit wherever investigators are waiting connected results and they judge determination whitethorn beryllium adjacent much cases to beryllium found.

"People whitethorn person been victimized that don't cognize his name, don't cognize who helium was," said Zanoni.

Zanoni was lasting astatine the podium, but gave recognition to his detectives from the acold lawsuit portion and the concern they started with the territory attorney's bureau past year.

Lee's lawsuit isn't the lone 1 the portion is moving on.

"Several investigations that occurred betwixt 2017 and 2022 successful Western Fresno County, " said Zanoni. "These execution cases occurred successful and astir the cities of San Joaquin, Huron, Coalinga, and Mendota."

Zanoni is hoping for much arrests and to springiness families closure.

For Lee's family, much answers could beryllium connected the mode soon.

Castillo is acceptable to beryllium arraigned connected Tuesday, April 29.

If the prosecution is successful, helium could look beingness successful situation oregon the decease penalty.

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