Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and co-workers. They should know we are grateful for everything she did for the Air Force and to support the Team Hill mission. She was a valued member of our team, and she will be dearly missed. – Col. Kathryn Kolbe
LAYTON — Police arrested a Layton father Tuesday who they say murdered his estranged wife Sunday and then fled.
Joe Joseph Castillo, 45, had been on the run for two days when he was arrested at a Del Taco restaurant in Lake Point, Tooele County, just before noon, Layton Police Lt. Jason Hinojosa said. A description of Castillo and his vehicle had been sent out to law enforcement agencies, and an officer recognized him in Lake Point.
Castillo was charged in 2nd District Court Monday with murder, a first-degree felony; domestic violence in the presence of a child and child abuse, third-degree felonies; and violation of a protection order, a class A misdemeanor, in the Sunday night stabbing of Kaylynn Spackman, 36. Castillo fled the scene and a $500,000 warrant was issued for his arrest as police searched for the man until he was located Tuesday.
Castillo was transported back to Layton and was being held at the police station while evidence was collected, Hinojosa said. From there, police expected to book him into the Davis County Jail.
"He's been compliant and very cooperative," Hinojosa said of Castillo.
Spackman and Castillo had been married for over 20 years and had three children, police said. But a protective order had been served to Castillo in previous months and the couple was no longer living together at 3228 W. 1025 North when the man arrived there Sunday evening.
According to an arrest warrant, Castillo and Spackman began arguing in the garage and it quickly turned physical, with Castillo stabbing Spackman multiple times with a kitchen knife. The couple's 17-year-old son tried to stop his father before a neighbor went to the home, prompting Castillo to flee.
Richard Essary, Hill Air Force Base spokesman, said Spackman was a civilian employee on the base, serving as the director of information protection for the 75th Air Base Wing and installation. In a news release sent by Essary, Col. Kathryn Kolbe, commander of the 75th Air Base Wing and installation, said those at the base were "saddened by the loss of one of our own."
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and co-workers," Kolbe said. "They should know we are grateful for everything she did for the Air Force and to support the Team Hill mission. She was a valued member of our team, and she will be dearly missed."
Her children and other family and friends of Spackman gathered Monday night to remember her.
"She was so awesome to be around. It felt like you were young again when you were around her. She made you so happy," one tearful woman said.
Spackman's grandfather told those who gathered that she was a good mother.
"My granddaughter was the sweetest, most loving person. She was just an angel," he said. "She was just trying to be a good mom."
Her children and other family members released pink helium-filled balloons into the air and proclaimed in unison: "We love you, Mom."
Email: emorgan@deseretnews.com, Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam