Depraved sicko admits he murdered estranged wife, buried her body — then dug it up to rape corpse
A California man has admitted to committing a horrifying murder, describing himself as a “monster” after killing his estranged wife, burying her, and later returning to commit further atrocities.
Zarbab Ali, 28, was found guilty last week of the first-degree murder of 25-year-old Rachel Castillo in Simi Valley in November 2022, just as the couple was finalizing their divorce.
Authorities said Ali confessed shortly after Castillo, the mother of his two children, was discovered dead in a remote desert area. He admitted hiding in Castillo’s darkened apartment, ambushing her, and repeatedly stabbing her in the chest. He then wrapped her body in a blanket, attempted to clean up the blood, and buried her in a shallow grave. Later returned to dig her up and raped her corpse.
Court documents reveal that Ali later returned to the grave and committed a further crime against her remains. In a police interview, he stated: “Just to confirm that I am a monster, I raped her. If I didn’t commit to being a monster, then she would have died for no reason.”
During the trial, Ali attempted to shift blame, claiming his actions were prompted by suspicions of infidelity. “This is the only way I could escape,” he said. “I wanted her dead. I was angry that she just wouldn’t let me move on.” Prosecutors emphasized that Castillo was close to finalizing her divorce at the time of the attack.
In a statement following the verdict, prosecutor David Russell said, “Our thoughts are with Rachel’s family, who have endured unimaginable pain since the day she was taken from them. I am thankful for the outstanding efforts of law enforcement, whose investigation made this verdict possible. While nothing can restore what her loved ones have lost, this conviction ensures the defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison and that the community will be protected from him forever.”
Ali is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12.
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