Northern California woman facing murder charge in husband’s Christmas Day killing

A Northern California woman accused of fatally shooting her husband at their home on Christmas morning is facing murder charges.

Julie Castaneda, 34, was slated to appear Monday in Butte Superior Court on a single count of murder in the early-morning Thursday shooting that killed her husband, Carlos Castaneda, 38, at the home in the 2000 block of Cox Lane in Oroville.

Julie Castaneda called emergency dispatchers about 2:38 a.m. to report that someone had been shot at her home, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Deputies arrived to find Carlos Castaneda wounded inside. Emergency personnel took him to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies and detectives found firearms during a warrant search of the Cox Lane home and evidence that led to Julie Castaneda’s arrest, sheriff’s officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Butte County Sheriff’s Office at 530-538-7671.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1040

Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.