MIAMI – A 55-year-old man charged in the disappearance of his daughter and her mother was back in federal court on Monday.
Family and friends of Gustavo Alfonso Castano Restrepo, the man prosecutors believe kidnapped and murdered his then-mistress Liliana Moreno and their 8-year-old daughter Daniella on Memorial Day 2016, left a federal courthouse in Miami following his arraignment.
Federal prosecutors previously told a judge that Castano had a motive: revenge for never wanting the baby in the first place, the financial hardship of child support, and because the affair ultimately ended his marriage.
Castano’s defense attorney, Philip Louis Reizenstein, has argued the case is underpinned by circumstantial evidence and assumptions and has said that prosecutors don’t know how they may have died since their bodies have never been found.
Facing a count of kidnapping resulting in death, Castano is eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
“We entered a plea of not guilty,” Reizenstein said. “We asked for discovery, which is all of the information in the case that the government has to provide, and we asked that the case be set for trial.”
The next court hearing in this case will likely be set for next month.
“We are anticipating going to trial in this case,” Reizenstein said. “The only other wrinkle here is the government needs to make a decision about whether or not they are going to seek the death penalty. If they do, that will require some work between defense attorneys, prosecutors, and the court. We are prepared for that, but of course, we strongly hope they don’t do that.”