A California mother-of-two was found dead after mysteriously vanishing last week, authorities confirmed Sunday.
The body of Rachel Castillo, 25, was found in a remote location in Antelope Valley, just north of Los Angeles and northeast of her home in Simi Valley.
Castillo was reported missing on Thursday after her sister Emily returned home to the apartment they shared and found it covered in blood.
The mother had last been seen dropping off her children, five and two, at the house of her ex-husband and their father, 25-year-old Zarbab Ali.
Authorities said Ali was arrested Sunday and has been named as the primary suspect in the murder. On Saturday he had posted a plea on his Facebook for information about Rachel’s disappearance.
Officials have released no further details in the ongoing case.
Rachel worked at a non-profit providing social services and counseling for domestic abuse victims.
The body of Rachel Castillo, 25, was found in a remote location in Antelope Valley, just north of Los Angeles and northeast of her home in Simi Valley
Rachel Castillo’s ex-husband, 25-year-old Zarbab Ali, was arrested on Sunday and named a prime suspect in her homicide
Rachel’s sister Emily said she first knew something was amiss the moment she walked into their home last Thursday night.
‘As soon as I saw the blood, that’s when I realized something wasn’t right,’ Emily told ABC. ‘So I called my mom to let her know to come over and then I immediately called 911.’
Cops said there was a ‘significant amount of blood’ in the apartment and signs of a struggle.
Rachel’s phone, keys, and car, were also all at the apartment when Emily returned home.
Rachel Castillo and her ex-husband Zarbab Ali with their two children, ages five and two
A missing posted circulated for Rachel Castillo after she went missing on Thursday evening
Rachel Castillo and Zarbab Ali, both 25-years-old. Ali has been named as the prime suspect in Castillo’s murder
Emily said she began searching for her sister even before police arrived on the scene.
‘I was running around the house trying to see if I could find her somewhere,’ she said. ‘I checked her bathroom, under her bed, her closet, my closet, the laundry room, my bathroom and my bedroom but she wasn’t anywhere in there.’
Over the weekend authorities began expanding their search for Rachel, and her parents took to Good Morning America to plea for information leading to her return.
‘Anything that can help my daughter, it’s better to do the right thing,’ Rachel’s father told Good Morning America through tears. ‘It’s best to do the right thing and step forward, we’re just asking if you’ve done something wrong, step forward and say it.’
Rachel’s father broke down in tears on Good Morning American while pleading for information leading to his daughter
Rachel’s sister Emily came home to the apartment they shared to find it covered in Blood Thursday evening
The neighborhood in Simi Valley, California, where Rachel disappeared from Thursday
Up until Sunday cops had not announced a crime associated with the disappearance, but ultimately determined the death was a homicide after Rachel’s body was discovered.
It remains unclear whether there was any evidence recovered implicating Ali in the murder. Police previously said he had been cooperating with the investigation.
A day before his arrest Ali took to Facebook to post about Rachel’s disappearance and asked the public to call in any information they might have.
‘If anyone knows anything please call call the Simi Valley Police at (805) 583-6950! She’s been missing since Thursday!’ he wrote.
During the search her family had ruled him out as a suspect and said he would never do anything to hurt her, according to ABC.
On Sunday evening Rachel’s church had gathered to hold a vigil and prayers for her safe return, unaware her body had already been found.
‘We miss you, we love you, just know that we want to come home and you are so so loved and if you can hear this message know that we’re surrounding you with love,’ was one prayer, according to CBS.