SAN ANTONIO – Opening statements were heard Wednesday morning as the trial began for a man accused of dismembering a woman back in 2020.
Rafael Castillo is facing a first-degree murder charge for the death of Nicole Perry.
According to the indictment, on Nov. 19 Castillo allegedly killed Perry by striking her with an ax and dismembering her hands.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Castillo killed Perry in front of her fiancé, who told authorities that he was “forced to clean up the scene under duress and he was scared for his life.”
Perry’s body, which was wrapped inside a black trash bag, was found by a Public Works Department crew assigned to clean up trash in the area near the 9200 block of South W.W. White Road.
Public Works employee, Oscar Flores, was the first to testify and talked about the moments he realized what was in trash bags wasn’t a dead animal.
“When I ripped the bag open I could see what looked like a neck and necklace,” Flores said.
Also on Wednesday, the jury was shown items found inside another trash bag near the one Perry’s body was in.
Inside that bag were several items with blood on it including shoes that had Nicky written on the sole.
The defense during opening statements, said that this was a case where witness credibility would be in question.
Castillo is currently out on bond and if found guilty could face up to life in prison.