Rosa Carolina Chirino Zambrano, the Venezuelan wife of Peruvian-American Renzo Humanchumo Castillo, was released this week after more than a year in Venezuelan custody. Castillo says she, a friend and their taxi driver were charged with espionage following their arrest near the Colombia border in December 2024. Castillo — who was freed in a July 2025 prisoner swap after describing harsh treatment at El Rodeo prison — is seeking help from the U.S. State Department to bring his wife to California. U.S. officials welcomed recent detainee releases as a positive step by interim Venezuelan authorities.
Wife Of Former U.S. Detainee Freed After More Than A Year In Venezuelan Prison
Renzo Humanchumo Castillo, a Peruvian- American who is a former Venezuelan detainee, and his wife, Rosa Carolina Chirino Zambrano, were detained in Venezuela after he was accused of plotting to kill Nicolas Maduro.(Getty Images)
Rosa Carolina Chirino Zambrano, the Venezuelan wife of Peruvian-American Renzo Humanchumo Castillo, was released this week after spending more than a year in a Venezuelan prison following her arrest while traveling to meet family, her husband says.
Castillo, who told Fox News Digital he was detained in Venezuela for nearly a year, said Zambrano — along with a friend and the taxi driver who was with them — had been imprisoned and charged with espionage because of their contact with him. He said his wife called him after her release, their first contact since Venezuelan authorities stopped them near the Colombia border in December 2024.
A Venezuelan national guard's tank remains outside El Rodeo prison in Venezuela.
"It was surreal," Castillo recalled. "She got teary, you know, but she was like… 'hey baby, I'm out.' Now my main concern is how do I get her here with me." Castillo, who lives in Southern California, said he plans to ask the U.S. State Department for assistance bringing her to the United States.
Arrest, Charges And Allegations
According to Castillo, Venezuelan authorities detained the group after they crossed the Colombia-Venezuela border. Venezuelan officials charged Castillo with terrorism and alleged he conspired to assassinate Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello. Castillo denies those accusations and said authorities portrayed him on state television as a professional hitman sent by the CIA to overthrow the government.
A woman uses a mobile phone on a tent set up by relatives of political prisoners outside El Rodeo I prison in Guatire, Miranda State, east of Caracas on Jan. 13.
"They got me as a professional hitman sent by the CIA, and (that) I was there to overthrow the government and kill Maduro and Diosdado (Cabello)," Castillo said.
The reporting also referenced recent developments involving Maduro; where possible, Castillo and officials' statements are presented as their claims or as reported by news outlets.
Detention And Abuse Allegations
Castillo said he was transferred to the notorious El Rodeo prison, where he endured harsh treatment. He described repeated beatings and other abuses, including an episode in which, he said, guards hung him by his arms and beat him for hours.
A side-by-side photo of President Donald Trump and Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.
"They had me hanging. And like my feet were still kind of touching the floor," he said. "They just hit me for maybe at least five to eight hours... you can feel the joy, how much they wanted to hit me, hurt me, you know?"
While imprisoned, Castillo said he clashed with guards several times and staged a hunger strike as he worried about his wife's fate. He said images on his phone of him wearing protective gear heightened investigators' suspicions; he explained those photos reflected his work in private security and executive protection, not military service.
Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed Federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on January 5, 2026 in New York City.
Prisoner Swap And Continued Watch
Castillo was freed in a prisoner swap in July 2025, but Zambrano remained detained because she is a Venezuelan citizen and was not eligible for inclusion in the swap, he said. Castillo said his wife and the others were charged with espionage due to their contacts with him.
Since recent political developments in Venezuela, Castillo said his optimism about reuniting with his wife has increased. He praised the U.S. administration's efforts to address the situation and expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump and U.S. lawmakers for attention to detainee issues. Castillo specifically thanked Senator Marco Rubio for his role, calling the government's actions instrumental in securing some releases.
U.S. Response And Bilateral Talks
The interim Venezuelan government announced on Tuesday that it had released at least four Americans who had been imprisoned under the previous regime. A State Department official welcomed the releases as "an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities," according to the reporting.
Acting Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez also said she spoke with President Donald Trump by phone about bilateral matters. On social media, President Trump said their discussion included oil, minerals, trade and national security and described the prospect of closer partnership between the two countries.
Castillo said he is now focused on reuniting his family in California and will pursue assistance from the U.S. State Department to secure his wife's safe travel out of Venezuela.
Note: This article summarizes the parties' accounts and news reports. Some claims — including allegations made by Venezuelan authorities about the detainees' activities and references to major political developments — are presented as reported or alleged.
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