Full Notification

On Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 8:31 pm, the Simi Valley Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from Emily Castillo, a Simi Valley resident. Emily stated she arrived home at her Wood Ranch area apartment and found evidence that a struggle occurred inside. Her sister, Rachel Castillo (25 years), who resides with Emily, was missing. Rachel’s personal belongings, including her cell phone, car keys, and vehicle, were still at the location.
 
Simi Valley Police Officers responded to the apartment and conducted a preliminary investigation.  Based on evidence at the scene, officers suspected that a crime involving serious injury occurred. Rachel was entered into the Missing Persons System, and the SVPD Detective Bureau responded to the scene and took over the investigation. Detectives have been working continuously since that time to locate Rachel and develop leads in the case. 
 
On the afternoon of Sunday, November 13, 2022, Detectives located human remains of an adult female in a remote location within the Antelope Valley. The Detectives, along with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the remains as Rachel Castillo. 
 
The primary suspect in this case, is Rachel’s ex-husband, 25-year-old, City of Hawthorne resident, Zarbab Ali.  Mr. Ali was arrested, in the afternoon of November 13, 2022 at his parent’s home in Victorville, in connection to Rachel’s homicide.  Mr. Ali was transported and booked into the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Pre-Trial Detention Facility for 187(a) PC, Murder. 
 
Ms. Castillo and Mr. Ali have two young children in common, whom are safe and with family members.
 
The SVPD Detective Bureau worked closely with both Federal and Local Law Enforcement agencies, whom were integral to the search for Rachel Castillo and the investigation.   The Simi Valley Police Department would like to thank and acknowledge the following agencies that assisted with this case;

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and their Task Force Officers
• The FBI Evidence Recovery Team (ERT)
• The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department - Victorville Station
• The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Palmdale Station
• The Los Angeles Police Department’s Task Force Officers
• The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
• The Ventura County District Attorney’s Investigators Office
• The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office

 
This investigation has rapidly evolved over the past few days. This case is still under investigation and some details cannot be released due to legal and investigative reasons.  The Simi Valley Police Department will release additional details related to this case when it is available.
 
Media Contact:
Commander Ritchie Lew
Executive Officer I Public Information Officer
Simi Valley Police Department
(805) 583-6909