Special Circumstances // 113

27-year-old Karina Castro was a single mother of two living in San Carlos, CA. She was in the process of looking for a new apartment following an ugly breakup with her estranged boyfriend,  33-year old rapper, Jose “Rafa” Solano Landaeta. According to Karina’s family, she was excited to get away from Jose and start a new life with her girls. However, just before noon on September 8th, 2022, Karina was stripped of any opportunities the future might bring, when onlookers witnessed a 300+ lb. man approach her outside of her home, wielding a massive samurai sword…

Written by Michael Dunphy Jr., Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. Special Thanks to Mya, Tanner, & Audra.

Visit Invisible Choir on the web: 

• Patreon - Invisible Choir Premium:  https://www.patreon.com/InvisibleChoir 

• Website:  https://www.invisiblechoir.com/ 

• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/InvisibleChoirPodcast/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invisiblechoir/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/InvisibleChoir

Written/Audio Sources: 

1. Opening statements in trial for man accused of beheading ex-girlfriend in San Carlos

2. Obituary | Karina M. Castro of San Carlos, California | Crippen & Flynn Funeral Chapels

3. Murder suspect arrested for San Carlos woman's beheading

4. Woman beheaded on San Carlos street, witnesses say

5. EXCLUSIVE: Man admits to beheading NorCal mother of 2 with samurai sword, claims self-defense

6. San Carlos Beheading: Law enforcement officials provide update

7. Man sentenced to 26 years for samurai sword beheading of young San Carlos mother Karina Castro

8. 'This crime was cruel': Man convicted of murdering mother of his child by beheading her in the middle of the street with a samurai sword in broad daylight

9. EXCLUSIVE: Contentious Snapchat messages may shed light on days leading up to San Carlos beheading

10. Karina Castro remembered as 'hero' after killer found guilty by jury

11. California man charged with beheading ex-girlfriend now claims self-defense

12. Samurai sword beheading: Landaeta refuses to attend own murder trial

13. Man arrested after beheading young mother in middle of San Carlos street: law enforcement sources

14. EXCLUSIVE: Contentious Snapchat messages may shed light on days leading up to San Carlos beheading

15. Father of beheaded victim in San Carlos speaks out

16. Relatives identify young mother fatally stabbed on San Carlos street

17. Eamonn Allen - Captain - San Mateo County Sheriff's Office | LinkedIn

18. Horror Snapchat messages mom, 27, received a day before her 'ex decapitated her on the street with a sword' revealed | The US Sun

19. Young CA mother beheaded on street identified, new info on suspect | ABC7

20. Man convicted in San Carlos beheading murder sentenced to 20 years – NBC Bay Area

21. Samurai sword beheading: Landaeta refuses to attend own murder trial

22. Remas Prophet ft Kaliin Opus - Shinano

23. Beheading suspect's sanity to be evaluated

24. Father of Woman Beheaded in San Carlos Calls Out Suspect's Court Behavior

25. Doctors chosen to mentally evaluate man accused of slaying San Carlos mother with sword

26. Dan Noyes - San Carlos murder defendant admits killing mother of his child with samurai sword, now

27. San Carlos beheading: Suspect sent threatening messages before killing

28. Landaeta guilty: Jury decides quickly in San Carlos beheading trial | Local News | smdailyjournal.com

29. 'I just want her back': Father of CA beheading victim reacts to ex-boyfriend's guilty murder verdict

30. Victim's family angry with sentence of Bay Area man who beheaded ex-girlfriend with samurai sword

31. Bay Area man sentenced for beheading ex-girlfriend with samurai sword

32. Ex-boyfriend who beheaded woman in San Carlos gets 26 years to life

33. APPENDIX D: California Penal Code sections 187, 190, 190.1, 190.2, 190.3, 190.4, and 190.5

34. Special Circumstances Murder in California - Penal Code 190.2 PC

35. Former San Mateo high school football star sentenced to life in prison

36. Sept. 8, 2022 - Children’s Fund

37. San Carlos samurai sword slayer sentenced to 26 years to life

38. San Carlos woman who was reportedly beheaded feared for her life, friends say

Music & Sound Effect Sources

• Opening Track: “Cloudscape” by Lance Conrad

• Closing Track: “Lifting” by Dream Tonic  

Music & Sound Effect Sources

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at info@invisiblechoir.com