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Man Convicted After Killing, Burying and Returning to Sexually Assault Estranged Wife

A Ventura County jury found 28-year-old Zarbab Ali guilty of first-degree murder for the Nov. 10, 2022 killing of his estranged wife, 25-year-old Rachel Castillo. Prosecutors say Ali stabbed Castillo, buried her, then returned the next morning to dig up and sexually assault her body before re-burying it; he admitted the acts in a recorded police interview. The jury also found special circumstances, including lying in wait and use of a knife. Ali faces life without parole; sentencing is set for Jan. 12, 2026.

05:57 AM, 11/26/2025Society
Man Convicted After Killing, Burying and Returning to Sexually Assault Estranged Wife

A Ventura County jury has convicted 28-year-old Zarbab Ali of first-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, 25-year-old Rachel Castillo. Prosecutors said Ali stabbed Castillo in her apartment on Nov. 10, 2022, buried her in a remote area near Littlerock, Calif., then returned the following morning to dig up and sexually assault her body before re-burying it.

Investigators recovered Castillo’s body on Nov. 13, and police later recorded a statement in which Ali admitted the killing and the subsequent assault. In video played at trial, Ali is reported to have said, "Just to confirm that I am a monster, I raped her." Prosecutors also said Ali had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of sexually assaulting Castillo’s body after initially burying it.

Jury findings and sentence

The jury convicted Ali of first-degree murder and found true multiple special circumstances, including that the killing involved lying in wait and the use of a knife. The district attorney’s office said Ali faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026.

Evidence and courtroom testimony

Prosecutors presented the videotaped interrogation as key evidence. According to trial testimony, Ali waited outside Castillo’s apartment, entered when she emerged from the bathroom, and stabbed her multiple times. Family members described Castillo as a devoted mother and student; she was the mother of two young children and was reportedly enrolled in a graduate program.

“Our thoughts are with Rachel’s family, who have endured unimaginable pain since the day she was taken from them,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney David Russell.

Castillo’s family members spoke after the verdict. Her father said his daughter had no defensive wounds and described the killing as "evil and egregious." Relatives rejected testimony offered by Ali at trial that suggested jealousy or alleged infidelity as a motive, emphasizing Castillo’s character and dedication to her children and studies.

Resources

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential; help is available 24/7 in many languages.

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