RAMONA : Man to Stand Trial in ’81 Slaying of Wife
- Share via
A man who was arrested in August--nearly 11 years after he allegedly shot to death his estranged wife--was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on charges of murder and attempted murder.
Following a preliminary hearing, San Diego Municipal Judge Charles Rogers said Salvador Casillas should stand trial for the Nov. 1, 1981, attack that left Maria Casillas dead in the bedroom of her Ramona house.
According to evidence presented in court, Maria Casillas and her boyfriend, Ronald Pozzi, were startled early one morning when a window was smashed at the woman’s Ramona home and a gun placed through it.
After hearing noise at the front door, the couple went to the front of the house, but Maria Casillas returned to the bedroom to use the only phone in the house.
A .22-caliber rifle again came though the window and Maria Casillas was shot twice in the head as Pozzi looked on. The gunman also fired one shot at him.
Casillas disappeared after the attack, and authorities believe he escaped to Mexico. He was arrested Aug. 23 by the Los Angeles County Airport Police.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
