San Carlos Grisly Homicide Suspect To Undergo Competency Exam: Report

SAN CARLOS, CA — The suspect in the grisly killing of a Peninsula woman last week will have to undergo a competency exam before prosecutors can proceed with a case against him, The Mercury News reports.

Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33, was arrested on suspicion of murder Thursday afternoon in connection with the beheading of Karina Castro, a 27-year-old former Menlo-Atherton High School student and the mother of two, authorities said.

Landaeta’s attorney, Robert Cummings, on Monday afternoon requested that his client’s mental competency to stand trial and participate in his defense be evaluated by the court, the report said.

Landaeta had been scheduled to be arraigned Monday and was making his first court appearance since his arrest, the report said.

The crime occurred outside the victim’s home in broad daylight late Thursday morning on Laurel Street near Magnolia Avenue, authorities said.

Sheriff’s Office Lt. Eamonn Allen told reporters Thursday that a “stabbing instrument was used” and that responding deputies found the victim “obviously deceased.”

Landaeta and his victim had been involved in a relationship, but the victim had a restraining order against him, ABC 7 reports.

Child Protective Services took custody of the victim's two children, both girls, 7 and 1 years of age, along with a dog and two cats that were in the house, ABC 7 reports.

Landaeta is the father of Castro's 1-year-old daughter, the television station reports.

Deputies were notified at about 11:50 a.m. about the attack in the area of Magnolia Avenue and Laurel Street near downtown San Carlos and found the woman dead.

The suspect, who deputies said was known to the victim, returned to the scene shortly afterward and was arrested on suspicion of the killing, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Det. Brandt at (650) 333-8195 or dbrandt@smcgov.org.

Read more in The Mercury News