Fourth Waukegan man pleads not guilty to murder
The fourth man involved with the murder of a Waukegan man in 2011 pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in court Thursday, officials said.
Eric Castillo, 24, of Beach Park remains in Lake County jail in lieu of $5 million bail for the July 5 murder of David Campbell, said Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kenneth LaRue.
Castillo has been charged with 12 counts of first-degree murder and is facing life behind bars if found guilty, LaRue said.
LaRue said Castillo joins Jose Horta, 19; Roberto Guzman, 24; and Nadia Palacios, 22, all of Waukegan, in pleading not guilty to Campbell’s murder.
The four, plus a fifth unidentified male, are accused of luring Campbell to a warehouse in Waukegan, then attacking, torturing and killing him, LaRue said.
His body was later dumped and discovered in Penny Road Pond near Barrington.
Campbell was targeted by the five because Palacios believed Campbell sexually assaulted her during a home invasion about a week before the murder, LaRue said.
A sixth man — Alex Rivera of Waukegan — has been charged with obstruction of justice for being present for the murders but not taking part in them, LaRue said.
Castillo is due back in court Aug. 21.