Colorado man found guilty of breaking into ex’s home and killing 4 before fleeing the country

AURORA, Colo. (TCD) -- A 22-year-old man faces life in prison without the possibility of parole after killing four people at his ex-girlfriend’s home in 2022.

According to the Colorado 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, a jury found Joseph Castorena guilty on May 16 of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Castorena is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 3.

On Oct. 30, 2022, at approximately 2 a.m., prosecutors said a woman called police and said her ex-boyfriend, Castorena, "may be hiding inside her home and should not be there." The woman had reportedly filed a restraining order against Castorena the week prior.

Shots were fired while the defendant’s ex-girlfriend was still on the phone with dispatchers. Officers responded to the scene and found four people — Maria Serrano, Jesus Serrano, Kenneth Luque, and Rudolfo Perez — dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Three of them were reportedly related to the defendant’s ex.

The fourth victim, who rented an RV on the property, went outside during the shooting and was killed.

According to the district attorney’s office, Castorena’s ex-girlfriend and her two young children were not harmed in the incident.

Upon further investigation, officials learned Castorena reportedly broke into his ex’s residence on Geneva Street and "waited inside with a gun until the family returned home." Castorena’s ex-girlfriend allegedly observed the defendant’s keys in her bedroom when she arrived, so she called law enforcement.

Castorena fled to Mexico after the fatal shooting, according to Aurora Police. He was apprehended in December 2022 and extradited back to Colorado.

Senior Chief Deputy District Attorney Darcy Kofol said, "We were not going to let a cold-blooded coward get away with murder. It was my honor to prosecute this case and help bring justice to the victims’ families."

MORE: