3 Arrests Made in Disappearance, Presumed Death of Ga. Mom

Three arrests have been made in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of a Georgia mother whose case went cold after she mysteriously vanished nearly four years ago, authorities said.

In a Facebook post on Sept. 11, the Cobb County Police Department said an investigation began on Oct. 12, 2019, when 42-year-old Matilde Gonzalez was reported missing by her family out of Powder Springs, Ga. She was last seen the day prior.

The Paulding County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook at the time that there were “suspicious circumstances” related to her disappearance. The Cobb County Police Department added in the statement this week that “foul play” was suspected from the start and that the case was soon turned over to its Cold Case Unit. 

Though the case went cold, a major “breakthrough” came on Sept. 8 when the Cobb County Police Department, along with other local law enforcement agencies, served a search warrant at a home in Paulding County, per the statement.

The search eventually led to the arrests of Alejandra Castro 41, Samantha Vasquez, 20, and Abel Castro, 45. 

Alejandra faces malice murder, concealing a death, and cruelty to children charges, while Vasquez is charged with malice murder and Abel is charged with concealing a death and cruelty to children.

It’s unclear if they have entered pleas or retained attorneys to speak on their behalf. The relationship between the suspects and victim is also unknown. 

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According to 11 Alive, authorities said in warrants for the suspects that they believe Gonzalez was killed during an altercation at a Cobb County home, where Alejandra and Abel Castro then got rid of Gonzalez’s body. 

Investigators also told WBS-TV that the suspects fooled Gonzalez's son into thinking she was alive by having someone pretend to be her and contact him through a Mexican phone number.

According to police, Gonzalez's body has yet to be recovered, and the investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-4111.

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