Gustavo Castaño Restrepo Appears Again in Federal Court Accused of the Disappearance and Alleged Murder of Liliana Moreno and Her Daughter Daniela.
This Monday, Gustavo Castaño Restrepo appeared again in federal court, facing charges for the disappearance and alleged murder of Liliana Moreno and her daughter Daniela. The defendant listened to the charges against him while his defense insists on his innocence.
Liliana Moreno, 41, and her daughter Daniela, just 8 years old, disappeared in May 2016. According to reports, both were last seen near a Home Depot in Hialeah. At the time, they lived in Doral, where they led an apparently quiet life.
Since That Day, the Case Has Become a Mystery.
Prosecutors argue that Castaño Restrepo had sufficient motive to commit a kidnapping that allegedly ended in the deaths of both. However, the remains of Liliana and Daniela have never been found, complicating direct evidence in the case.
After the hearing, Castaño Restrepo’s attorney, Phil Reizenstein, stated that his client maintains his innocence and is preparing for trial. “We plead not guilty and ask that the prosecution present all the information they must show in this case,” Reizenstein said.
The attorney also noted that, although the process is in a preliminary stage, there is a possibility that prosecutors may seek the death penalty against his client. “If they decide to pursue it, we are prepared to face it. Of course, we hope they do not,” he added.
The Victims’ Family, in Statements from Colombia, Expressed Their Pain and Frustration Upon Hearing the Defendant’s Plea of Not Guilty.
Eduardo Moreno, Liliana’s brother, revealed details about the secret relationship between Liliana and Castaño Restrepo, who was married and had other children at the time of the disappearance.
“We always suspected him. It doesn’t surprise us that he claims to be innocent, but all we want is justice and to know what happened to my sister and my niece,” said Eduardo Moreno.
Despite the years that have passed, the family continues to cling to the hope of finding answers and, in the best-case scenario, Liliana and Daniela alive.
Prosecutors face the challenge of building a strong case in a process that, according to the defense, is based on assumptions rather than concrete evidence. The absence of human remains and direct evidence complicates the charges, while the defense seeks to demonstrate there is insufficient grounds to link Castaño Restrepo to the crime.
Castaño Restrepo’s attorney anticipates a trial, but prosecutors must still decide whether to seek the death penalty as the maximum punishment.
Image: T51
