Slaying Suspect's Wife Warned of Risk to Children

Dugan said that he found the case to be "very disturbing" but that he had "substantial difficulty" with the credibility of both Amy and Mark Castillo. "I am not satisfied," Dugan said, "that indeed there is clear and convincing evidence of abuse in this case."

In a June 2007 evaluation, Mark Hirschfeld, a Wheaton psychotherapist, wrote: "There are no reports or indications from any reliable, unbiased source indicating that any of his behaviors has placed his children at physical risk or risk of other types of significant harm. It remains clear that his children are his priority."

Judge Michael D. Mason cited Hirschfeld's report on June 27, when he denied a request by Amy Castillo to halt her husband's visitations.

An earlier evaluation, by psychologist C. David Missar, cited the June 2006 episode involving the ant poison. Missar wrote that Castillo planned to drink the poison, tape his mouth shut and stab himself with the utility knife, all to make his estranged wife "feel terrible" for taking the children. Missar said Castillo posed a low risk to his children, provided that he continued psychotherapy.

Castillo grew up in California, one of five children, and was raised primarily by their mother, according to court documents. He served in the Air Force for a time, the records say, and then worked as a mail carrier, flower shop owner and riverboat card dealer.

He met his future wife in Charleston, S.C., while traveling the country performing in gymnastics shows, according to Missar's report.

The Castillos bought a brick split-level house off University Boulevard in Silver Spring in the summer of 2001. With the arrival of the Castillos' first child, Mark Castillo became a stay-at-home father, and Amy Castillo, with her doctor's salary, supported the family, according to Downer, the next-door neighbor.

Mark Castillo recently worked part time at a state-run sports center in Laurel, where he taught gymnastics. Colleagues at the Fairland Sports and Aquatic Complex were shocked to learn that Castillo said he had drowned his children.

"Most of the employees that know him say they don't believe it," said an employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because officials at the center had instructed employees not to speak with the media. "He was a really, really nice guy -- a family man."

After the birth of their third child, Athena, three years ago, Mark Castillo's behavior became increasingly erratic, Downer said. He started staying out all night, taking the children to the mall in their pajamas and spending his wife's money so fast that she feared that she might lose the house, Downer said.

Amy was accustomed to playing the role of acquiescent spouse, but a friend told her, "You have to put your foot down," Downer said.

Mark Castillo moved out, reluctantly, before his daughter's first birthday. "I don't think he wanted to go," Downer said, "because he loved the kids dearly."