The schizophrenic ex-boyfriend accused of beheading his ex-girlfriend in broad daylight outside her Northern California home has been found competent to stand trial.
Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33, will allow his trial to proceed as scheduled after a court-appointed doctor ruled that the man accused of killing Karen Castro, 27, in September is mentally fit.
DailyMail.com pictured Landaeta in court Wednesday as he appeared for a preliminary hearing in San Mateo, California.
Landaeta is accused of using a samurai sword to behead the mother of two in San Carlos while her two young daughters, aged seven and one, were in the house.
Before her murder, the young mother had a restraining order against her ex – who is also the father of her one-year-old child.
The schizophrenic ex-boyfriend who beheaded his ex-girlfriend outside her Northern California home in broad daylight has been found competent to stand trial
Landaeta is accused of brutally beheading his ex-girlfriend Karen Castro, 27
Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33, will allow his trial to proceed as scheduled after a court-appointed doctor ruled that the man accused of killing Karen Castro, 27, in September is mentally fit
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe confirmed in February that KPIX proceedings would resume against the accused killer.
The decision was made based on a Jan. 26 report from the court-appointed physician assigned to examine Landaeta.
On Wednesday, the Bay Area man was seen in court, handcuffed and dressed head-to-toe in orange.
Landaeta appeared before San Mateo Judge Rachel Holt, who will oversee his trial.
A judge had previously stated that the trial will begin on March 23.
In a February interviewSolano claimed the attack was in self-defense and that Castro was carrying a knife at the time of her murder.
According to the deceased mother’s family, Landaeta has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a history of drinking on his meds.
The aspiring rapper had been warned both legally and informally by her and her relative to stay away from Castro.
Her family has spoken Bay Area outlets and said they had been worried for years that he might harm their daughter.
“Every time I saw her I begged her, ‘Don’t talk to him, leave him,'” Marty Castro, the young woman’s father, told ABC7.
“And it seemed like the more I did, the more she’d see him,” he continued.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe confirmed in February that KPIX proceedings against the accused killer would resume
On Wednesday, the man was seen in court handcuffed and dressed head to toe in orange
Landaeta appeared before San Mateo Judge Rachel Holt, who will oversee his trial
Landaeta is accused of using a samurai sword to behead the mother of two in San Carlos while her two young daughters, ages seven and one, were inside
According to Castro’s father Marty Castro (right) and grandmother Danielle Gannon (left), Landaeta has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a history of drinking on his meds.
According to Danielle Gannon, Castro’s grandmother, she was an independent woman who was “determined to raise her daughters alone.”
Gannon said Landaeta often used his schizophrenia as an excuse for his behavior.
“He drank to excess and you can’t do that with those kinds of drugs,” Gannon explained.
In a September 2022 interview, Marty warned parents, “If there is someone abusing your daughter, don’t run. Don’t let it go. Don’t take “no” for an answer.’
“You’ll feel responsible no matter what anyone says,” the grieving father said.
After her body was found, Snapchat posts suggested that Castro may have threatened to expose an alleged relationship with another man.
In a follow-up, Landaeta sent back a threatening message that her family says eventually led to the confrontation outside her home.
“He got really angry, went to the trunk of his car, took out whatever it was, and killed her right there behind her car,” Marty said.
A neighbor told ABC 7 that he witnessed the horrific scene from the steps of his home.
“The head was under the car and she was in the back of the car – just cut through,” said neighbor Chapel Thorborne.
After her body was found, Snapchat posts revealed that Castro may have threatened to expose an alleged relationship with another man
In a 2022 interview, Marty Castro warned parents, “If there is someone abusing your daughter, don’t run. Don’t let it go. Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer’
“The head was under the car and she was in the back of the car – just cut through,” said neighbor Chapel Thorborne
In a February interview, Solano claimed the attack was in self-defense and that Castro was carrying a knife at the time of her murder.
A floral tribute lies where Karina Castro was carried outside her apartment
Messages of love are written on the rocks at the small tribute to the murdered San Mateo woman
Officers responded within minutes and found Castro’s body on the ground.
Landaeta was said to have initially left the scene, but returned and was quickly arrested.
“After he chopped off her head, he came walking up, him and his two friends,” Thorborne told ABC. “And they walked right past me and arrested him.”
DailyMail.com went to the scene of the crime and found a large display of flowers and gifts outside her apartment where Castro was murdered.
