Troubled relationship ends with children witnessing stabbing death

Onelio Castro-Arroyo faces charges in Yanelis Gonzalez's murder

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ Damaris Morejon said she received a shocking phone call. It was from Onelio Castro-Arroyo. She said he told her he had stabbed her 45-year-old cousin, Yanelis Gonzalez.Ā HeĀ wanted her to knowĀ what he had done, she said Wednesday.

Castro-Arroyo also called police. The daughter he shared with GonzalezĀ was in the car. That didn't stopĀ him from stabbing Gonzalez to death, police said. HeĀ isĀ at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional CenterĀ Wednesday afternoon facing charges in her mother's murder.Ā 

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Relatives said Castro-Arroyo, 51, and Gonzalez, who was born in Cuba's Pinar del Rio province, were in a difficult-to-leave marriage. Morejon said they had separatedĀ and were trying to get back together when they got into an argument. She said Gonzalez was considering getting a divorce.

Surveillance video showsĀ Castro-Arroyo taking off his shirt --Ā which was stained with Gonzalez's blood --and dropping it withĀ the suspected murder weaponĀ into a dumpster, detectives said. He later told police officers the stabbing deathĀ was the end of a troubled relationship.Ā Ā 

Miami-Dade Police Department detectives started to investigate the domestic violence case inside of theĀ parked black sports utility vehicle where Gonzalez diedĀ at the Country Club Villas Park at 6869 NW 179th St., north of Miami Lakes.Ā 

Miami Police Department detectives assisted them in case.Ā Castro-Arroyo surrendered with his hands up at the Villas of Havana atĀ 717 SW 11Ā Ave., in Miami's East Little Havana, whereĀ Miami-Dade crime scene investigators also collected evidence on Tuesday.Ā  Ā 

Miami-Dade Corrections records show Castro-Arroyo is facing charges of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, grand theft, petit theft, criminal mischief and second-degree arson. He is being held without bond.Ā 

Relatives said Gonzalez's adult daughter wantsĀ custody of Castro-Arroyo's daughter. Gonzalez's cousin, Ismay Ortega, set up a GoFundMe account asking for donations from the public to help cover the cost of Gonzalez's funeral and to help her two daughters.Ā 


About the Authors

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.

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