By KRWG News
Las Cruces – A California man suspected of dressing in woman's clothing and severely beating his 58-year-old mother with a baseball bat was arrested by Las Cruces Police Monday afternoon after an alert neighbor interrupted the attack and called 911.
Christopher Castillo, 38, of San Jose, Calif., is charged with one count each of attempted murder, kidnapping and tampering with evidence.
At around 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to the 1300 block of Utah Avenue after a neighbor saw a man - later identified as Castillo - wearing a white dress, high heels, stockings and a wig and walking toward a neighbor's home. A short while later, the witness heard screams and went to the neighbor's home where she saw Castillo armed with an aluminum baseball bat and standing over the victim.
The witness yelled out and Castillo put away the bat. The witness then helped the woman to her feet and to her residence where she called 911.
Las Cruces Police officers arrived and located Castillo a short distance away. Castillo had changed into khaki pants, a white shirt and tennis shoes. The baseball bat was located near an alley just west of the residence.
The victim received a broken arm during the attack and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The woman's injuries might have been worse had she not used a chair to protect herself from at least one swing of the bat.
Detectives learned that the victim had not seen her son in six years but received a telephone call from her daughter on Friday stating that Castillo mentioned that he was traveling to Las Cruces to kill his mother.
Castillo is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $155,000.