The headstone of Baby Hope now bears her real name, Anjelica Castillo.
The mother of “Baby Hope,” who disappeared and was found dead in a cooler by a New York City highway in 1991, says she was the victim of attempted extortion by the man who is now accused of killing her daughter.
Margarita Castillo, who sat silently as her 4-year-old daughter — now identified as Angelica Castillo — remained missing for 22 years, told reporters that Conrado Juarez, 52, a cousin, came to her several years after Angelica’s disappearance and lied to her, saying that he had been raising her two daughters and that they had been taken from her by her estranged husband, the New York Daily News reports. He said she owed him money for child care.
Castillo did not go to police because, she said, she didn’t speak English at the time and was intimidated by the language barrier.
After the case was cold for 22 years, police say Juarez confessed on Saturday to killing her. His lawyer has said he was confused during the course of a long interrogation.
“I didn’t believe she was dead,” Castillo said. “I feel a lot of pain. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody.”
