Wife of Dominican Merengue Singer Murdered in Home Robbery
Two men, including a singer's employee, are accused of Zeneida Castillo's death after she served them lemonade.
Zeneida Castillo, wife of Dominican merengue singer Julián Oro Duro, was murdered in her home during a robbery after she served lemonade to the perpetrators, authorities said. One of the accused, Kevin Germán, 23, confessed to the killing in a YouTube interview.
Germán stated that he and Lawrence Liranzo, 18, were invited into the Santo Domingo Oeste home on Sunday by Castillo, whom Liranzo knew from his employment with Oro Duro. After initially offering water, Castillo prepared lemonade for the guests. Approximately 40 minutes into their visit, Liranzo allegedly struck Castillo, 60, with a flower vase. Germán claimed he did not physically harm Castillo but that Liranzo threatened him to prevent his escape.
Authorities reported that Liranzo allegedly locked Castillo's mother, who has Alzheimer's, in a bedroom before stabbing Castillo multiple times. Liranzo then contacted an accomplice, Phillips Tejada, who was identified as Julián Oro Duro's right-hand man and driver, to locate a bag of cash within the residence. Tejada allegedly instructed Liranzo and Germán to remain at the home until the singer, whose real name is Gilberto Sarante, returned from a performance, as they also intended to steal his gold necklace.
Sarante arrived at the home around 1 a.m. Monday and was reportedly attacked by Liranzo, who used a mahogany statue to strike him before stealing the necklace and fleeing. Sarante was hospitalized with an intracranial hemorrhage and craniofacial injuries, undergoing surgery and later being released.
Germán surrendered to authorities on Wednesday evening after the interview was broadcast. Tejada, Liranzo, and a fourth individual, Juan Hernández, were arrested separately on Wednesday and Thursday. Their initial court appearance was scheduled for Friday but was postponed to September 30.
Law enforcement recovered over $30,000 in cash, approximately $3,000 in Dominican pesos, a Rolex watch, and other valuables from the homes of the accused. Castillo was buried at a cemetery in Santo Domingo Este, where artists expressed concern over the escalating crime rates in the Dominican Republic.
