A dual U.S.-Salvadoran citizen from California has been extradited to El Salvador. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that Michael Alejandro Castillo Murga, accused of killing a woman in front of their toddler son and abandoning the child, will face charges in El Salvador.
Castillo Murga, 27, from Beaumont, California, was handed over to Salvadoran authorities to face charges of aggravated femicide and imperfect homicide related to the 2019 incident.
This extradition is the first instance of the U.S. surrendering an American citizen for prosecution of crimes committed on Salvadoran soil, according to the DOJ. Castillo Murga holds dual citizenship in both the U.S. and El Salvador.
Authorities in El Salvador claim that on January 31, 2019, Castillo Murga picked up Melvi Fernanda Nájera Quezada, 23, and their son. He allegedly killed Nájera Quezada and left their son near her body, which was found by a highway the following day.
An autopsy revealed severe bleeding from neck cuts and other injuries made with a plastic knife as the cause of death. The DOJ confirmed cell phone data and witness testimonies linked Castillo Murga to the crime. He reportedly sent a photo showing his blood-stained face and neck to his girlfriend.
Investigators also accused Castillo Murga’s grandmother and a lawyer of aiding in destroying evidence. They allegedly arranged for cleaning the vehicle’s interior and exterior to remove blood traces, but complete removal failed.
Prosecutors stated that Castillo Murga fled to Guatemala by February 2, 2019, with help from his grandmother and lawyer, eventually entering the U.S.
The U.S. Marshals Service, Central District of California, aided in his capture and custody transfer to Salvadoran authorities. Castillo Murga was arrested in October 2024 after an extradition request from El Salvador.
He contested extradition in federal court, but a judge denied his petitions in November 2025 and September 2026. The U.S. Secretary of State then authorized his transfer, and U.S. Marshals completed his handover to face Salvadoran prosecution.