Suspect in Rockford-area stabbing waives hearing, moving case closer to trial

The suspect in the stabbing of an 11-year-old girl decided to move his case closer to trial today.

Ricardo Castillo waived his preliminary exam hearing on Wednesday, June 26 during a Probable Cause Conference in Kent County's 63rd District Court. That moves his case to 17th Circuit Court, which would oversee a future trial.

Castillo is accused of entering a home on Ella Terrace Court in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 15, grabbing a knife from the kitchen, and then stabbing a girl who was sleeping over at her friend's house.

The 24-year-old suspect told investigators he planned to violate the girl's body after killing her, then murder the rest of the people sleeping in the home . The girl screamed when she was stabbed in the shoulder, stopping the attack.

Kent County Sheriff's Deputies found Castillo still in the bedroom where the stabbing happened, with the bloody knife laying nearby.

During Wednesday's hearing, Castillo's attorney requested his $2 million bond be reduced. Judge Sara Smolenski denied the motion, saying, "This is one of those type of cases that causes us all to drop to our knees because it's so utterly unbelievable hard to comprehend."

Smolenski said the assault makes the public feel like, "none of us are safe anywhere, anyplace anytime."

Castillo is charged with assault with intent to murder, first-degree home invasion, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, and carrying a weapon with unlawful intent. He also faces a count of illegal entry for a separate incident in Rockford that happened hours earlier.

Castillo is a recruiter for the U.S. Marine Corps.

His next court date has not yet been set.