Murder Case: Watsonville Man Admits To 2019 Attack, Police Say

WATSONVILLE, CA — A Watsonville man was arrested Monday on suspicion of a 2019 elder abuse and murder case, police said.

Casto Luna, 42, remains in Monterey County jail in lieu of $1 million bail and faces charges related to murder, elder abuse resulting in serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, witness intimidation and spousal battery, according to Watsonville police and jail records.

The arrest dates back to an October 2019 incident in which Arnulfo Hernandez, 71, was determined to have accidentally fallen in Watsonville and died, police said. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office learned in may that Hernandez died after a criminal act in north Monterey County, police said.

Investigators interviewed first responders, family and witnesses. They determined Luna, a Watsonville transient, was responsible and he admitted to his role in the matter, police said.

Anyone with information may call Monterey County Sheriff's Office Detective Aras Wilson at 831-759-7203 or Detective Sgt. Bryan Hoskins at 831-755-3773.

WPD officers & detectives assisted the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office in arresting a Watsonville transient accused of murdering an elderly man.

Casto Luna was found in the area of Ford and Kilburn Streets in Watsonville & taken into custody on Monday. https://t.co/xwbAelRZrx pic.twitter.com/6dIBfpGbqq
— Watsonville Police (@WatsonvillePD) June 24, 2020