NBC 7’s Steven Luke reports on the death of Leonor Castillo, 37, who served as a PTA leader at her kids’ school. Her ex-husband, Cesar Castillo, has been arrested.
A Chula Vista woman who served on the PTA at her kids’ school was run over repeatedly by a pickup truck driven by her ex-husband, Chula Vista Police said.
Palomar Elementary School administrators sent a letter home to parents informing them of Leonor Castillo’s death.
Castillo, 37, was the vice president of the Parent Teacher Association at the school at Palomar Street and Melrose Avenue.
Her friend, PTA President Maria Espinoza, said Castillo put her children and family first.
“It's just a big ache,” said PTA President Maria Espinoza. “And to know we won’t see her, it's very sad."
Investigators have arrested Cesar Castillo, 37, and are still trying to locate the vehicle, a white 1998 Chevy Silverado truck.
Leonor Castillo was raising three children ages 10, 8 and 3 years old. Friends say she was a devoted daughter too and cared for her aging parents.
Her boyfriend who worked with her at the Lowes in Eastlake spoke to NBC 7 and claimed Cesar Castillo was a jealous ex.
Even so, Leonor agreed to meet Cesar Friday night and help him pick out Christmas presents for their daughters.
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Investigators say Leonor died just a few blocks down the street from her home on 1st Avenue, moments after her ex-husband picked her up Friday night.
Leonor somehow got out of the truck in the 1100 block of Elm Avenue, the victim's boyfriend said.
Witnesses told police they saw a white truck run over Leonor in a home's front yard, circle back and hit her again, taking out a fence in the process.
Espinoza said even Cesar worked with the PTA. “They'd help each other out here,” she said. “So it's very sad this could even happen."
Cesar started getting aggressive in March when Leonor began dating, according to her boyfriend.
Leonor got a restraining order against her ex-husband in April after he allegedly held her hostage in his truck, driving her around and threatening to crash, her boyfriend told NBC 7.
After the restraining order was filed, Castillo made an effort to get his life together and get back into Leonor's by attending counseling, the boyfriend says.
Cesar Castillo surrendered to authorities at the San Ysidro Port of Entry around 2:15 p.m. Monday, according to the Chula Vista Police Department.
On Monday, the school sent out a note to parents, explaining that their "beloved" PTA vice president had been killed. Officials said psychologists would be on campus if any student or staff member needed to talk about the loss.
