Huntington Beach Double Homicide Cold Case Arraignment Rescheduled

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — A Colorado resident was set for arraignment on Monday for two felony counts of murder committed almost 25 years before. That arraignment was rescheduled until early June.

If convicted of maximum sentence for the double homicide Alamosa, Colorado resident Lamberto Ricci Castillo, now 64-years-old, will spend the remainder of his life in prison according to the Orange County District Attorney's office.

Castillo was arrested in late April at his home in Colorado and charged with the double homicide in Orange County. He is currently in Central Men's Jail, and no bail has been set.

The Huntington Beach Police Department and OCDA relayed the details of the night of the murders in a recent release.

HBPD developed a lead about a year ago that ended upcracking the case, a law enforcement source said. More information on the case will be discussed at a press conference Monday afternoon, according to HBPD.

"On the evening of March 31, 1994 two people were socializing downtown in Huntington Beach," Jennifer Marlatt, public information officer for Huntington Beach Police Department said.

When Castillo saw the two 23-year-old men urinating in the street near Main Street and Orange Avenue, OCDA said that he verbally confronted the men then returned with a handgun.

"Castillo is accused of walking away after the argument and returning at 10:15 p.m. with a handgun," Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff for the OCDA said in release. "An off-duty police officer witnessed the argument, but not the shooting."

Castillo was accused of shooting Kenny Paul Sommers and Chen "Cosmo" Maui Blanchard multiple times before fleeing the scene.

"Huntington Beach Police Department Officers responded to multiple calls of shots fired in that area," Marlatt said. "They discovered Sommers and Blanchard lying on the ground. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene."

According to Marlatt, the case was reopened in 2016 and was researched by the Orange County Cold Case Homicide Task Force.

"Castillo was arrested on April 27 in Alamosa, Colorado based upon newly developed evidence," she said. "The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time."

OCDA Booking Photo