Marlon Devine Santos was an infant who went missing from his foster home.
Case[]
Marlon was living in a foster home in Worcester, Massachusetts in August 1998. His foster parents were Jose and Yolanda Castillo. Also living in the home were the Castillo's biological and other foster children. Marlon's biological mother was homeless, and was addicted to drugs, causing Marlon to be born addicted. Marlon's biological father was trying to gain custody of him around the time he disappeared. Yolanda claimed her husband was on a day trip to New York the day Marlon disappeared. She went to pick up two of her biological children from school around 1:00 p.m. that day. She left Marlon and two other foster children who were 2 and 3, in the house alone for about one hour. When Yolanda returned around 2:00 p.m., Marlon was gone. She drove to New York to pick up Jose and called the police to report Marlon missing when she arrived back home. The last person other than Yolanda to see the baby was the Castillos' 17-year-old biological child, who saw him at noon on they day he went missing but left the home before Marlon vanished. After Marlon was reported missing, the Castillos' other foster children were promptly removed from their home by the Massachusetts Department of Social Services. Six weeks later, their biological children were also taken, but later they were given back to the Castillos.
The Castillos had taken care of 51 foster children since 1993. The couple had several abuse and neglect allegations against them prior to Marlon going missing. Jose has an extensive criminal record, and has been charged with the sexual assaults of many of his foster children and his stepdaughter. Jose was sentenced to 5-7.5 years in prison.
In October 1999, police received a tip that Marlon's body was buried in a bank of the Wachuset River near route 70 in Boylston, Massachusetts. They discovered torn baby clothing, plastic fragments, and a diaper. It appeared as though Marlon's body had been wrapped in the plastic but was later moved. No blood, hair, or signs of a human were found at the scene. Both Jose and Yolanda have refused to cooperate with authorities in Marlon's case, and they are considered possible suspects in his case.
Characteristics[]
- Black hair.
- Brown eyes.
Sources[]
- Marlon Santos at the Charley Project
- Marlon Santos at NamUs