Phoenix police have announced that Leonardo Santiago, 21, already detained in connection with the brutal murder of Bernardo Pantaleon, has now been charged with first-degree murder in a separate case. Santiago, a suspected gang member, is accused in the March shooting death of Osvaldo Hernandez Castillo. Hernandez Castillo, 20, was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound on March 20 near 24th and Dunlap avenues and later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.
This development in the Hernandez Castillo case came to light during the investigation of the Pantaleon murder, with new digital evidence implicating Santiago. “Santiago admitted his involvement in the March homicide when questioned about the new evidence,” stated Sgt. Phil Krynsky.
Pantaleon, 30, was found at Mountain View Park on November 26 with multiple gunshot wounds and severe mutilation, potentially due to his sexuality. Santiago, along with Manuel Carrasco Calderon, Jose Rodriguez, and Christopher Ibarra Santana, are all facing charges related to Pantaleon’s death, including first-degree murder.
