HOWELL (WWJ) – Investigators in Livingston County have cracked the nearly 40-year-old cold case murder of a young Redford woman.
Christina Castiglione, 19, disappeared in March of 1983. Her body was found eight days later in the Oak Grove State Game Area, north of Howell.
Four decades later, investigators have identified Charles Shaw of Livonia as her killer, thanks to a genealogy website. Authorities linked DNA from the scene to relatives of Shaw.
Officials with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office said at a press conference Wednesday Shaw Died about eight months after Castiglione’s murder due to accidental sexual asphyxiation.
Authorities are now looking into other cases from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s to determine whether Shaw may be connected.
Bob Getschman, a retired FBI agent, has followed the case for the past four decades. He said Shaw attempted at least one attack on a woman in 1981, which was foiled.
“That didn’t quite work out because his potential victim fought him off and was successful and he ran with his tail between his legs and she got his license plate number,” Getschman said. “They tracked him down and he was arrested, where he subsequently served some time, so that was unsuccessful.”
Getschman said authorities are unsure whether Shaw tried another attack on another woman between Castiglione’s murder and his death.
Detective Sgt. Matt Young with the sheriff’s office said Shaw’s ex-wife “believed that something like this could have happened at some point during their marriage.”
“She wasn’t overly surprised, but she was more than helpful in bringing this to resolution,” he said. “The brother was a bit blown away.”
Family members of Castiglione attended Wednesday's announcement, but declined any comment.
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