Marcelino Castro, 28, from San Jose, has been charged with two counts of murder after confessing to killing two men and leading police to their bodies buried near the Guadalupe River on September 19. Authorities suspect he may be a serial killer due to his methodical approach and possible motive based on drug-related interactions. Deputy District Attorney Michael Gadeberg warned that there could be more victims, indicating the killings began around September 13 for the first victim and September 15-16 for the second.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Marcelino Castro, 28, from San Jose, was charged with two counts of murder after confessing to killing two men and leading police to their bodies buried along the Guadalupe River. Deputy Santa Clara County District Attorney Michael Gadeberg warned that these killings might be part of a serial killer case due to Castro’s behavior pattern. Castro initially flagged down an officer on September 19, guiding them to one victim's body near Lelong Street and West Alma Avenue; he then confessed to a second killing the same day. Prosecutors noted Castro tried twice to turn himself in, first at Main County Jail where deputies did not believe him, later successfully confessing at San Jose Police Headquarters on September 19. Authorities are concerned about possible additional victims given Castro's apparent lack of motive and methodical approach in luring victims under the pretense of smoking methamphetamine together.
Written for “Possible Serial Killer Suspect” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
A San Jose man accused of killing two people in separate attacks may be a serial killer, authorities warned, saying there could be more victims.
uncertain
authorities → accuse → attacks
Marcelino Castro, 28, has been charged with two counts of murder after he allegedly confessed to killing two men and led police to their bodies in different locations along the Guadalupe River.
uncertain
he → charge → River
“Although there’s only two victims, it looks like the start of a possible serial killer case, and I’m grateful he turned himself in before he continued,” Deputy Santa Clara County District Attorney Michael Gadeberg told SFGATE Thursday.
asserted
Gadeberg → ’ → SFGATE
Castro “flagged down” a San Jose police officer on September 19 and told authorities he had killed someone near Lelong Street and West Alma Avenue, police said in a news release.
asserted
police → flag → release
He then led officers to a body buried near the Guadalupe River by Tamien Station, according to a police report obtained by the outlet.
uncertain
He → lead → outlet
After officers found the first victim, Castro confessed to a second killing and led investigators to another body near the Guadalupe River Trail by Coleman Avenue and Autumn Parkway.
asserted
Castro → find → Avenue
The victim had been wrapped in a red tent and left in tall grass near the river, according to a police report obtained by SFGate.
uncertain
victim → wrap → SFGate
Authorities believe the first killing occurred September 13, while the second happened either September 15 or 16, Gadeberg said.
asserted
Gadeberg → believe → ?
Neither victim has been publicly identified.
asserted
victim → identify → ?
According to the police report, Castro told officers he knew the first victim and had gone with him to an area near Tamien Station to smoke methamphetamine.
uncertain
he → accord → methamphetamine
Castro allegedly attacked the man “without provocation,” strangling him and slitting his throat before digging a shallow grave and burying him.
uncertain
Castro → attack → him
Days later, Castro allegedly targeted a second man.
uncertain
Castro → target → man
He “lured” the man to an area near the Guadalupe River Trail by offering to smoke with him, prosecutors allege.
asserted
prosecutors → lure → him
Castro allegedly strangled the man and hit him with a rock before wrapping his body in the red tent and leaving it in the tall grass.
uncertain
Castro → strangle → grass
“It appears that this man may have just had a compulsion to kill and he started with someone he knew and then progressed to a random stranger,” Gadeberg said.
uncertain
Gadeberg → appear → stranger
Gadeberg said the second victim was found in an area frequented by runners, families visiting a nearby playground and people living in homeless encampments.
asserted
victim → say → encampments
He said the victims may have been unhoused, but that has not been confirmed.
uncertain
that → say → ?
“Those areas are frequented by homeless people, but our understanding is that the defendant lured them to those locations,” he said.
A motive for the killings has not been identified.
asserted
motive → frequent → killings
Gadeberg said the case is unlike anything he has previously encountered.
asserted
he → say → anything
“I’ve never seen anything like this.
asserted
I → see → this
I’ve had a spree killer case and a number of double homicides, but I have never had something like this where there is no apparent connection or motive,” Gadeberg said.
asserted
Gadeberg → have → this
The two killings are San Jose’s 20th and 21st homicides of 2026, police said in the news release.
asserted
police → say → release
The Aporia
.png?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
.png?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
