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Authorities have arrested Sandra Guadalupe-Castro, 57, in connection with the 1993 murder of a two-year-old boy in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Berks County District Attorney’s Office announced the arrest on Wednesday (October 8). Guadalupe-Castro, who was the girlfriend of the child's father, faces first-degree and third-degree murder charges.
The tragic incident occurred on January 8, 1993, when police responded to a call on the 1000 block of Franklin Street. The toddler was found with multiple blunt impact injuries to the head and various bruises. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and his death was ruled a homicide. Despite initial investigations and numerous interviews, no arrests were made at the time.
In 2005, the case was reopened under the Berks County District Attorney's Cold Case Initiative, led by John Adams. Investigators re-examined medical records and forensic findings, which helped them determine that the fatal injuries occurred shortly before the child's death. This information narrowed the timeline and established that the boy was in the sole care of Guadalupe-Castro at the time of his death.
Guadalupe-Castro was taken into custody at her home after a warrant was issued for her arrest. She is currently held in the Berks County Jail without bail, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 17. Online court records do not list an attorney for Guadalupe-Castro.
The arrest marks a significant development in a case that has remained unsolved for over three decades. The investigation highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring justice to cold cases.