ST PAUL, Minn. — A St. Paul man with a history of drug abuse and crime will spend the next 22 years of his life behind bars after being sentenced Friday for killing his wife while the two were at bible study.
Robert Castillo was sentenced to 400 months, or 33 and 1/3 years in prison after pleading guilty in the death of his wife, 41-year-old Corrina Woodhull. Prosecutors said Castillo and the victim were at a bible study session at Castillo's sister's home the night of March 21, 2023. Witnesses say Castillo leaned over and whispered in Woodhall's ear, then pulled his hunting knife and stabbed her at least 20 times.
In court Friday, family members and friends described Woodhull as a kind person and devoted mother to her five children, who had overcome her own history of chemical addiction and was working to help others in their struggles.
Corrina's father, Randy Kirscheman, talked about his daughter's work with people in prison, trying to help them turn their lives around. He called for Castillo to get the maximum penalty state law would allow.
"If there ever was a good reason for the death penalty, this would be it," Kirscheman told the courtroom.
Woodhull's mother, Linda Castle, shared that she was just 17 when she had Corrina, stating that both almost died during her pregnancy due to her type 1 diabetes. "Over the next 40 years, we survived as mother-daughter, best friends, sisters, sometimes worst enemies.... but we literally had to grow up together, side by side," Castle recalled. "Trying to explain the impact her death has had on my life? It's impossible."
When given the opportunity to speak, Castillo stood at a podium and apologized to Woodhull's family for taking her away. He said he will pray that they will someday forgive him, and told the courtroom he doesn't recall the events of that night,
Castillo ended by saying he believes she will be waiting for him in heaven, to give him a hug.
Castillo's attorney filed a motion for a reduced sentence, citing the defendant's traumatic childhood which included parents with drug problems, violence and sexual abuse. He noted Castillo's chronic use of methamphetamine and heroin and argued that the defendant was in a drug-induced psychosis the night of the murder, and lacked the capacity to know what he was doing.
But Ramsey County Judge Richard Kyle Jr. said the defendant did not establish he lacked the capacity to understand his actions that night, and sentenced him to 400 months (33 and 1/3 years) in prison, of which he will serve a minimum of 22 years.
"Obviously, this is a sad and tragic case, it is yet another painful example of the frightening reality of domestic violence in our community."
"She did not deserve to die at the hands of the defendant this way," Judge Kyle concluded.
Castillo was given 541 days of credit for the time he has spent in jail. Once his sentence concludes, Castillo will serve 133 months on supervised release.