The stepfather of a child allegedly drowned by her mother inside a California apartment claims the woman struggled with mental health. Graciela Xiomara Castellanos, 37, reportedly feared her immigration status, and her unnamed fiancé says he believes the fear affected her depression so deeply it triggered a horrific reaction. By the time first responders arrived at an apartment in the 6800 block of Sepulveda Boulevard around 5:40 p.m. April 11, 2025, the child was already dead.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office did not name the child, but Law & Crime identified her as 7-year-old Rebecca Castellanos. An unidentified neighbor told KABC they allegedly heard the child screaming, “Mommy, please no! Mommy, please no!” shortly before police and paramedics arrived. Sadly, it was too late.
Castellanos’ fiancé spoke highly of her. He told KABC in Spanish, “First, I want to say that my wife was an almost perfect mom. She never told a bad word, yelled at the girl, didn’t hit her. She was the sweetest mom in the world.”
The man said by the time he got home, the child had died.
“I never got to the apartment and saw the girl, or her,” he said, per KABC. “I got home after all of it happened. This happened at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., and I got home at almost 7 on the dot.”
The fiancé said he and Castellanos planned to marry in the coming months, and he intended to adopt Rebecca. He told KABC the mother had mental and emotional issues that caused her to break down and scream and isolate herself until she could calm down. The man asserted that Casetllanos did not act violently in previous episodes. He believes the fear she would not obtain legal United States citizenship caused her to fall into a deep depression, triggering the horrific episode.
According to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, Castellanos faces a felony count of murder and a felony count of assault against a child under 8 years old, ending in death.
“The alleged facts of this case – where a mother is accused of intentionally taking the life of her young child – are profoundly tragic and deeply unsettling,” District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman shared in the release. “Our sympathy goes out to the family and loved ones of this young girl, whose life was cut short far too soon. We are committed to seeking justice through a thorough and fair prosecution and ensuring that the legal process honors the memory of the child and supports the healing of her family.”
Castellanos reportedly pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing, and a judge set her bail at $2 million, per the district attorney’s release. If convicted, she faces 25 years to life in prison.
