Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
A Plumstead Township woman has been identified, along with her elderly parents, as a victim in what investigators called "suspected homicides" Monday night at the family’s Bucks County home. The woman’s brother faces multiple misdemeanors lodged against him by Northampton Township Police.
Deborah Castiglia, 53, was found deceased inside her parents’ Churchville home on Monday, according to a criminal complaint. Also found dead in the residence were her parents, Frederick, 90, and Judith Castiglia, 84, who lived in the Heather Road residence for decades.
Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan told reporters the deaths are being investigated as homicides.
Kevin Carl Castiglia, 55, who also lived at the Heather Road home in Northampton Township, is charged with two counts each of misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and possessing instruments of crime. The charges stem from an encounter with officers responding to a well-being check, not directly from the deaths themselves, investigators said. Castiglia is in law enforcement custody and will be preliminarily arraigned on the initial charges at some point, officials said.
Khan said Northampton Township police, Bucks County Detectives, and prosecutors continue to probe the deaths.
"This was an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing danger to the community," the district attorney said
According to the affidavit, police were first contacted by a friend of Deborah Castiglia’s, who reported he had not heard from her and went to her parents’ home looking for her. The friend told investigators that when Kevin Castiglia answered the door on Monday, he allegedly threatened him with a large knife, prompting a 911 call.
When officers arrived, they reported Kevin Castiglia was armed with knives and behaving erratically, said the complaint. Police said officers attempted to use a Taser, which was ineffective, before Castiglia retreated inside the home and barricaded himself. A tactical team later entered the residence, where they discovered the three deceased family members, according to the complaint.
Court documents state Castiglia was eventually taken into custody after refusing commands and retreating to a second-floor bedroom. The complaint details alleged threats and actions toward police officers but does not yet include homicide charges.
Police wrote in court papers that the victim's riend described the knife as a "Psycho" chef's knife. Kevin Castiglia reportedly told Deborah Castiglia's friend that she went on vacation. He then threatened to kill him if he showed up at the home again, police said.
One of the officers who went to the door believed he spotted blood on one of the knifes Kevin Castiglia brandished, police said.
The district attorney told reporters the standoff lasted for five hours and officers showed "tremendous restraint" when dealing with the armed man.
In his comments, Khan said he "joined the community in mourning," and stated more information will be released once the family of the victims is notified
Officials have said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be filed pending further findings.
Arraignment details were unavailable at noon Tuesday.
Heather Road reopened Tuesday morning after being closed Monday due to the standoff and investigation.
