Alex Albert Castro, Murder, Michigan 2019

Grimy Times Exclusive: Defendant Name, Crime, State Year

CASTRO PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER IN MILAN, MI

DETROIT – In a shocking turn of events, Alex Albert Castro, 42, a former resident of Fontana, California, has pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the brutal slaying of fellow inmate Christian Maire at the Milan Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

According to court records, on January 2, 2019, Castro, along with co-defendants Jason Kechego, 41, and Adam Taylor Wright, 42, killed Maire in a heinous attack that left the victim with multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the head. Castro repeatedly stabbed Maire while Kechego and Wright kicked and stomped him in the head. The three then threw Maire’s body down a flight of stairs.

Castro’s plea agreement calls for a possible sentence of up to life in prison, which could be imposed concurrently, partially concurrently, or consecutively to the 42-year sentence Castro is already serving for his underlying 2017 federal drug trafficking conviction.

This case marks the latest development in a string of violent crimes committed by Castro and his co-defendants. In 2022, Wright pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to just over 24 years of imprisonment. Kechego was convicted at trial of second degree murder and sentenced to 28 years of imprisonment.

“This savage crime deserves the most serious of consequences. My office is committed to preventing violence wherever it occurs. These convictions show that we will not turn a blind eye to this type of conduct and will aggressively prosecute violence within our prisons,” said U.S. Attorney Ison.

Sentencing has been set for July 28, 2023 at 10am.

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