STERLING, Va. (WUSA9) -- A jury decided Tuesday to sentence Braulio Castillo to life plus 16 years in the murder of his wife Michelle two years ago.
After a five-week trial, the jury took about five hours deciding to give 50-year-old Braulio Castillo life in prison plus 16 years for murdering his estranged wife and mother Michelle Castillo, 43.
Friends and family members said they wanted a life sentence so that the Castillo's five children will be protected and won't have to fear their father anymore.
"Justice was served today. But also...there are no winners here. We are grateful," said Sharon Supp, a friend of Michelle.
Supp thanked the prosecution team at the Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney's office "who have relentlessly pursued justice for Michelle and for her children."
Michelle Castillo was found dead hanging from a shower curtain rod with a cord around her neck on the morning of March 20, 2014. The prosecution said her husband sneaked into the house, attacked her, killed her and then set up her body to look like a suicide.
The Castillo's housekeeper testified that she made Michelle's bed on March 19, 2014 and did not see any blood stains. However, blood stains were found on her sheet.
Castillo's oldest son, 23-year-old Nicholas Castillo, testified for the prosecution. He said that he recognized his father on a neighbor's surveillance video jogging up the driveway hours before his mother was allegedly killed. He added that he recognized his father's limp in the man jogging.
Nicholas Castillo and his younger sister Victoria, 13, took the stand to give their victim impact statements during the sentencing phase on Tuesday. They both described the anguish of losing their mother and feelings of being lost. They said they have a loving, wonderful mother who now won't be part of their lives.
"My mom won't get to talk to my future kids," said Nicholas.
Victoria said her mom won't get to see her go to Homecoming or Prom. "She won't be that crazy mom on my wedding day."
"I haven't been able to sleep, I haven't been able to think," said Nicholas, telling the jury that he had to drop out of college. "I loved my mother. A big part of my life is gone."
The jury rejected the suicide story, finding Braulio Castillo guilty on all three charges: murder, breaking and entering to commit murder, and violating a protection order. The life sentence is for the murder count, 15 years for breaking and entering, and one year for the protection order violation.
"She did everything right to protect herself. She changed the locks, took out a protective order...but he killed her anyway," Prosecutor Alex Rueda told the jury.
There is evidence Michelle fought for her life. Braulio's fresh blood was found on her pillow and sheets, he had a black eye, she was bruised and clumps of her hair were found in her bedroom where she was attacked.
It's believed Braulio hid in her closet. One of their younger children, Zachary, testified that he saw his father in their home that night.
"What he did to Michelle and what he did to those children is just heinous. And unforgivable. He deserved nothing less than a life sentence," said Rueda to reporters afterward.
"This was somebody who planned this, he had given it thought. He had decided he was going to try and cover it up... and make it seem that it was a suicide when it clearly wasn't. And to me, it speaks of the cold-heartedness," said Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Nicole Wittmann.
Stephanie and David Meeker, friends of Michelle, are raising the Castillo's four younger children. As their family more than doubled, Mr. Meeker told the jury that they had to move to a bigger house and buy a bigger car.
"We get to cobble together a life with four children. We try to explain the value of telling the truth, love and respect," said David Meeker.
Stephanie Meeker said Michelle was a kind and generous friend who would "answer her phone whenever I called." She said "watching her children cry because they miss her is overwhelming at times." She said the trauma Braulio Castillo caused his children has left them confused and grieving deeply.
Michelle's friends said they pray to God that Braulio Castillo will repent and be sorry for what he did.
"Living with the realization that the man who they like to call Dad, is the same man who murdered their mother is overwhelming," said Stephanie Meeker.
"Michelle was a bright light. The person foremost in her life was her faith in Jesus Christ. Her family. And her friends," said Melodie Mandanis. She was one of several friends from McLean Bible Church who attended the five-week trial daily.
"The most obvious tragedy was for her children who lost everything that day. Most importantly, their mother who loved them with reckless abandon and a love like Jesus loved her that she shared with them," said Sharon Supp.
Supp struggled to answer a question about her feelings about Braulio.
"One of the most unique things about our Christian faith is that God commands us to love our enemies. And it's not an option...That doesn't make it easy," Supp said.
An appeal by Braulio Castillo is expected. A wrongful death lawsuit against him by his children has been filed.
