A pregnant woman was stabbed to death by her ex-husband on the side of a highway in Hawaii, according to police. Motorists allegedly attempted to stop the Marine from fatally stabbing his ex-wife.
Dana Alotaibi, 27, and U.S. Marine Bryant Tejada Castillo, 29, were driving on the H-3 highway when the couple reportedly got into an argument on Wednesday. Their car was pulled over to the shoulder around 6:20 p.m., according to witnesses.
Eyewitnesses observed a “male standing over a female, stabbing her multiple times,” said Deena Thoemmes, homicide lieutenant of the Honolulu Police Department’s criminal investigation division.
“It has been determined that the victim and the male were married, and had recently been going through marital problems,” Thoemmes said. “At the time of the incident, they were arguing before he stabbed her multiple times that caused her fatal injuries.”
Multiple motorists purportedly stopped their cars and attempted to stop the suspect from stabbing the woman.
The suspect allegedly fled into the woods. Police pursued the suspect, and as they moved in, the man allegedly stabbed himself with the same knife he reportedly used to stab his former wife. Police apprehended the suspect. Castillo was taken to the hospital for his self-inflicted injuries.
Concerned bystanders attempted to provide medical treatment to Alotaibi at the crime scene.
An unnamed witness told KITV, “You know obviously when we’re doing CPR there’s no pulse, they didn’t get a pulse the whole time, and it was just her face, she just looked past the point of no return, you know.”
“Could you imagine being stabbed in the neck and then watching as your life just literally leaks out of you, and everyone around you either doesn’t know what to do, or is too shocked to do anything about it, I couldn’t imagine that,” he added.
Alotaibi was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead at 8:31 p.m. at the Adventist Health Castle Medical Center.
The Honolulu Police Department and the Department of the Prosecutors’ Office domestic violence team are investigating if there was prior abuse.
Castillo was assigned to the 3rd Littoral Combat Team at Marine Corp Base Hawaii in Kaneohe.
The Marine Corps issued a statement to KITV:
The Marine Corps is aware of a tragic incident that occurred yesterday evening (July 20, 2022) allegedly involving a US Marine currently assigned to the 3rd Littoral Combat Team. Our understanding is that the Marine is currently in the custody of the Honolulu Police Department as their investigation continues, but has not been formally charged. The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment and Marine Corps Base Hawaii will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials as the details surrounding this incident unfold. The Marine Corps extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those involved.
Alotaibi and Castillo had been married for nearly three years, but had been separated and not living together any longer. Castillo had filed for divorce in November, and it was granted by a court last month, according to court documents.
Alotaibi talked about her divorce in a YouTube video published on July 12, but revealed a dispute over a joint-owned vehicle. She also said the military could be sending her back home to Virginia. She also said he threatened to kill her.
Friends of Alotaibi told Hawaii News Now that she was 13 weeks pregnant with her current boyfriend’s baby.
The victim’s mother Natalia Cespedes told KITV, “It’s so sad, it’s very sad, because we have our plans for everything.”
“Just want to know my daughter has plans to come back to Virginia, make her life, live with her kid because she was pregnant, so we get everything ready for her to come back,” Cespedes said. “Was feeling so sad. Look, my life is empty. I really want to, I really had planned for here for my grandbaby, and I think how they’re dead has been very troubling.”
Alotaibi leaves behind her parents and three sisters.
“Only I can pray to bring, I want to bring my daughter home, that was the plan,” Cespedes said.
Castillo’s bail is set at $1 million.
Police said the woman allegedly stabbed by her husband on H3 was pregnant
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