A 32-year-old San Mateo resident has been charged with two counts of murder for allegedly strangling his pregnant girlfriend, killing both her and her unborn child, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
Andrew Coleman allegedly strangled the victim, 37-year-old Kirsten Castle, in the family room of their shared San Mateo apartment on Aug. 4. Castle — who was eight months pregnant with Coleman’s child — was found by her young daughter topless on the floor, according to the DA’s Office, with neighbors and relatives showing up to the scene soon after.
“[The daughter] asked me, ‘Will my baby sister be OK?’ It was heartbreaking,” one neighbor said.
Coleman then allegedly fled the scene in Castle’s car and stole $37,000 from a safe belonging to Castle and was unresponsive to calls. Within about five hours of arriving on the scene, police identified and arrested Coleman, who was driving to Southern California and was apprehended by the West Covina Police Department.
He is being charged with two counts of murder and the special circumstance of multiple murder, meaning if found guilty he could face life without parole or, technically, the death penalty.
He is currently being held in custody without bail and will enter a plea Sept. 4, Wagstaffe said.
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