One year later, TGIF murder remains mystery

It was just after 5 a.m. on a quiet San Mateo morning one year ago today that T.G.I Friday’s night manager Douglas Castello was discovered murdered, and police are asking the public to help turn up any additional clues to help catch his killer.

Douglas Castello, 36, of Hayward, was discovered by a day shift manager at approximately 5:15 a.m. Jan 21, 2008. Police arrived moments later at the restaurant located at 3101 El Camino Real and pronounced him dead at the scene. He died from blunt trauma and the person, or people, responsible made off with money from the restaurant’s office. In the past year, few new clues have turned up, even as police continue to scrutinize the case and Castello’s former girlfriend diligently searches for answers to close a chapter to a life that was turned upside down by the loss of a loved one.

"I’m optimistic we’ll solve this case. We exhausted physical evidence and we need something, somebody to tell us something we can work with,” said San Mateo police Detective Sgt. Tim Sullivan.

Police are working to ensure a $10,000 reward offered last year by the T.G.I. Friday’s Worldwide organization is still available to anyone who provides a tip leading to an arrest. The Carol Sund/Carrington Foundation and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office were also recently contacted for reward contributions.

For the first two weeks following the murder, police devoted seven detectives, two sergeants and one lieutenant to the case. Police conducted 150 interviews that included all employees at San Mateo’s Friday’s and many from nearby Friday’s in San Bruno and Campbell. They executed 10 search warrants on data that could produce investigative leads. They collected physical evidence that produced no suspects. Eight people were looked at closely and five were given lie detector tests, Sullivan said.

No one was arrested.

Now there are two detectives and Sullivan working the case. Sullivan said every time a robbery or burglary case comes across his desk, he double checks to see if it has any similarities to the Friday’s murder.

"There are no witnesses, no physical evidence and no clear motive,” Sullivan said.

Police do not know if the murderer was there to rob the restaurant, to kill Castello or had plans to do both.

Castello’s former girlfriend Laura Johnson thinks it was probably someone — either an employee or customer — who knew Castello. Her quest to find out has led her around town, listening to conversations at bars, passing out fliers and consistently checking in with police. When her boyfriend of two and a half years died, her life paused.

"I will never get over this. Knowing who did it will help me start to move forward, but right now my life is at a standstill,” Johnson said.

After Castello’s murder, Johnson discovered she was pregnant and later lost the baby. A few weeks after that, she lost her job. Her quest for answers is unwavering even as others move on.

Johnson is organizing a candlelight vigil at Friday’s this morning and is holding a memorial at Castello’s grave later in the day. A memorial will be held later at Moon’s Family Pub in downtown San Mateo, she said.

"You think there’s got to be someone out there who knows something. Maybe somebody might not be aware there’s a reason to call. There is ... the case is not closed.”

The one-year anniversary offers some home for Johnson. Cold case detectives will now consider taking on the case and America’s Most Wanted said it is considering a feature on the murder, Johnson said.

Until then, both police and Johnson hope the money will be enough to get people’s attention.

There is a memorial fund set up at Wells Fargo bank to raise money to increase the reward offer. Donations can be made to "The Douglas Castello Memorial Fund” at any Wells Fargo location.

For more information visit www.douglascastellomemorial.com.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.