Active US Marine Charged With Second-Degree Murder After Allegedly Stabbing Pregnant Wife to Death

Dana Alotaibi Bryant Tejeda-Castillo US Marine Natalia Cespedes Homicide Lt. Deena Thoemmes Honolulu Police Department

By Camille Hutchison , Parent Herald Jul 25, 12:53 am

According to Honolulu police, a man who happens to be an active US Marine allegedly stabbed his estranged wife to death after having an argument on a Hawaii freeway this week.

The woman who was brutally stabbed to death off the H-3 Freeway on Wednesday night has been officially identified by the medical examiner as 27-year-old, Dana Alotaibi of Virginia.

The man who stabbed her wife to death has been identified as Bryant Tejeda-Castillo, a marine assigned to the third Littoral Combat Team. He was arrested Wednesday night on a second-degree murder charge, per the arrest record of the Honolulu Police Department.

Homicide Lt. Deena Thoemmes stated in a press conference on Thursday that the witnesses saw the violence take place on the H-3 Interstate Highway on Wednesday evening at around 6:18. Some of them pulled over and tried to restrain the man, who was in possession of a knife, while also providing aid to the victim, per NBC News .

Repeated abuse under the hands of US marine

Natalia Cespedes, Alotaibi's mother, said that her daughter sent her pictures and messages documenting abuse from her husband. She believes that her daughter would still be alive if only military officials acted on repeated requests for help.
Tejeda-Castillo's bail is set at $1 million.

The victim posted several videos on her social media accounts regarding her abusive relationship, claiming her husband hit her, pulled her hair, choked her, cheated, and threatened to kill her.

A YouTube video posted in January shows Alotaibi sobbing on the phone with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, claiming the marine did nothing after the report of multiple cases of violence and infidelity. Alotaibi tells the hotline responder that the experience was haunting her and all the incidents that he's hit her and done horrible things to her and even when she reached out for help, nothing was happening and asked herself multiple times why is he so untouchable and why isn't he getting jail time, why isn't he getting demoted in rank and why isn't he getting kicked out, per Hawaii News .

The woman was taken to a hospital after being stabbed multiple times and was pronounced dead at 8:31 in the evening.
The marine used the knife he had to injure himself during his arrest and was also taken to a hospital. Honolulu police could not be reached to clarify his condition.

A Marine Corps Spokesperson told NBC News, Saturday, that the marine is currently in the custody of the Honolulu Police Department as their investigation continues. He has not been formally charged.

Domestic Violence

According to Thoemmes, Tejeda-Castillo and Alotaibi had been dealing with marital issues. Friends of the victim revealed that she was 13 weeks pregnant with her current boyfriend and planned to move back to the mainland to reunite with her family. The medical examiner has not yet confirmed her pregnancy publicly.

In the last video of Alotaibi, posted on YouTube, she described herself as an entertainer and social media personality known for doing music, reaction videos, and some adult content. She also talked about issues she was having with her husband for nearly three years.

The Marine Corps Spokesperson stated that they will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials as the details surrounding this incident unfold. Furthermore, they also extend their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those involved, per Yahoo News .