San Francisco, CA: SF Police Arrest Man For Killing Ex-Girlfriend

Posted: 11:51 am PDT August 27, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO -- Police have arrested a man suspected of killing his 32-year-old ex-girlfriend earlier this month, authorities said Thursday.

Ena Canales was found stabbed to death inside her parked Pontiac Aztec sport utility vehicle at about 9:45 p.m. on Aug. 5 in the 800 block of Terry A. Francois Boulevard, according to police.

Police and prosecutors said today that Manuel D. Castro, 31, of San Francisco, was arrested in Maryland with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and booked into San Francisco County jail early Wednesday on a homicide charge.

District attorney's office spokeswoman Erica Derryck said Castro has been charged with one count of murder for the death of Canales and one count of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly attacking Canales' new boyfriend.

Castro made an initial appearance in San Francisco Superior Court on Wednesday, but postponed arraignment and plea entry until an attorney is appointed for him, Derryck said. He is scheduled to return to court Friday.

Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Eileen Hirst said Castro was arrested on two district attorney's warrants totaling $7 million.

Castro also has a federal immigration hold, Hirst said.