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Officials say murder charges were dropped against a woman after evidence shows she shot her husband in self-defense during a Christmas Day altercation.
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — A Butte County woman had her murder charges dismissed after investigators said she acted in self-defense during a Christmas Day shooting that killed her husband.
The woman, 34, was charged with murder with the use of a firearm after the Christmas Day shooting of her husband, Carlos Castaneda, 38, at their home on Cox Lane in Palermo. He was pronounced dead at Enloe Hospital after suffering three gunshot wounds to the torso.
According to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a 911 call from her around 2:30 a.m., reporting the shooting. Deputies said two semi-automatic handguns, one registered to each spouse, were found near Carlos’s body, along with three spent cartridges from her gun.
She initially declined to speak with investigators and was arrested based on the evidence at the scene. She was held in the Butte County Jail on a no-bail hold until she provided a full statement on Monday after consulting with her attorney.
During the interview, she described a history of domestic violence and said that an argument about her husband’s drinking escalated into a physical attack in their bedroom, according to the sheriff’s office.
She said that Carlos grabbed her cell phone, put his hands on her throat, and advanced toward her with a gun.
Fearing for her life and concerned for their three children in the home, she said she shot him three times before calling 911 and performing CPR.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the woman’s account matched the physical evidence at the scene.
“As a result, we determined there was insufficient evidence to disprove her claim of reasonable self-defense under the law,” Ramsey said. The murder charges were officially dismissed in Butte County Superior Court on Wednesday.
“This office remains committed to protecting public safety while ensuring that the rights of all individuals are respected under the law,” Ramsey added. “The dismissal reflects our dedication to applying legal principles fairly and consistently.”
Ramsey also acknowledged the tragedy for the family, particularly the children who witnessed the events of Christmas Day.
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