VENTURA, CALIFORNIA — A man who admitted to plotting the murder of his estranged wife has been convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait and use of a deadly weapon. Zarbab Ali, 28, was found guilty on Friday, November 21, 2025, for the killing of 25-year-old Rachel Castillo, whose body was later discovered in a shallow grave in a remote desert area.
Missing Woman’s Case Turns to Tragedy
Rachel Castillo, a mother of two, was reported missing on November 10, 2022, after her sister returned to their shared Simi Valley apartment and found a bloody scene. Castillo’s car, phone, and keys were still at the apartment, raising immediate concern.
Authorities launched an intensive search. Three days later, on November 13, detectives from the Simi Valley Police Department and the FBI located Castillo’s remains buried near Littlerock in the Antelope Valley. That same day, Ali was arrested at his parents’ home in Victorville.
Prosecutors Expose Premeditation and Disturbing Details
During the investigation, Ali admitted that he had thought about killing his wife for some time. On the day of the murder, he reportedly picked up their children, dropped them off at his parents’ home, then returned to the apartment where Castillo lived. According to court testimony, he entered through an unlocked door, turned off the lights, and waited until she came out of her bedroom before attacking.
He stabbed her multiple times with a kitchen knife, wrapped her body in a blanket, and transported her in the trunk of his vehicle to the desert where he buried her. Prosecutors said Ali later returned to the burial site and committed a sexual act on Castillo’s body, which led to an additional felony conviction for unlawful sexual contact with human remains.
Ali allegedly told detectives that he wanted to fully embrace being a “monster,” saying, “Just to confirm that I am a monster, I raped her,” and that if he didn’t go through with it, “she would have died for no reason.”
Sentencing and Family Response
The jury found multiple aggravating circumstances, including murder by lying in wait and the use of a deadly weapon. The conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Rachel Castillo’s family welcomed the verdict. Her father, Chris Castillo, said they were grateful that justice had been served. Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2026.
For more cases involving shocking spousal murders and relationship‑driven crimes, check out our video here:
