YouTube News

Kevin Germán described the Castillo killing before surrender

Dominican police arrested three other suspects and recovered more than $30,000 after the Apogeo TV interview.

Kevin Germán, 23, told the hosts of Apogeo TV on YouTube that he and Lawrence Liranzo entered the Santo Domingo Oeste home of merengue singer Julián Oro Duro on Sunday before Zeneida Castillo was killed. He turned himself in Wednesday evening after the interview aired.

Germán said Castillo, Oro Duro's wife, had recognized Liranzo, an employee of the singer, and let the two men inside. He said they spoke for about 40 minutes before Liranzo struck her with a flower vase, choked her, and stabbed her at least three times while an accomplice waited outside.

Germán said he never touched Castillo and that Liranzo threatened to kill him if he tried to leave. Authorities said Liranzo also locked Castillo's mother, who has Alzheimer's, in a bedroom during the attack.

Phillips Tejada, Oro Duro's driver, allegedly told Liranzo and Germán where to find a luggage of cash and ordered them to stay until the singer returned from a show so they could take his gold chain. Oro Duro, whose real name is Gilberto Sarante, arrived around 1 a.m. Monday and was struck with a mahogany statue before the men fled with the necklace.

Oro Duro was treated for an intracranial hemorrhage and craniofacial injuries, underwent surgery Thursday, and was released from the hospital Friday. Tejada, Liranzo, and Juan Hernández were arrested Wednesday and Thursday. Their first court appearance was moved to Sept. 30.

Police said they recovered more than $30,000 in cash, about 196,000 Dominican pesos, two watches including a Rolex, and other valuables from the defendants' homes.