[Archived] Saenz Castro Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison

For Immediate Release: December 21, 2017

On December 21, 2017, Alvaro Saenz Castro, a 23-year old City resident, was sentenced to serve 60 years in the penitentiary with 15 years of that sentence suspended for the murder of Jose Luis Perez-Ferman. The suspended portion of the sentence was conditioned on the defendant’s compliance with supervised probation for a period of 20 years following his release from incarceration, and his maintaining good behavior for the remainder of his life. The defendant was also prohibited from having contact with the victim’s family and known gang members. There is no parole in Virginia.

The evidence in this investigation showed that on November 8, 2015, Mr. Perez-Ferman was lured into Beverley Park in the Beverley Hills neighborhood of the City of Alexandria by an acquaintance, Leidi Granados Gutierrez. Once the victim arrived in the park, he was attacked by Saenz Castro, along with a co-defendant, Reinaldo Membreno Portillo. The victim had dozens of wounds to his body, including chop wounds, incised wounds, and stab wounds. The attack was so brutal that Perez-Ferman was nearly decapitated.

Contrary to previous media reports, the evidence conclusively established that the murder occurred in Beverley Park.

An intensive investigation resulted in the arrests of Ms. Granados Gutierrez, Mr. Portillo Membreno, and Mr. Saenz Castro. Grandados Gutierrez was tried as an adult and convicted of Compounding a Felony. Following her plea to that charge, she was sentenced to commitment with the Department of Juvenile Justice and given a suspended adult sentence following her release, conditioned on compliance with supervised probation.

Reinaldo Membreno Portillo plead guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to 60 years in the penitentiary with 30 years suspended, conditioned on compliance with supervised probation, good behavior, and his having no contact with the victim’s family or known gang members.

This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David A. Lord and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Erin Earp. The case was investigated by Detective Sean Casey, who is now a Sergeant in the Alexandria’ Sheriff’s Office.

The defendant has remained in custody since his arrest. He is currently incarcerated at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center, pending his transfer to the Department of Corrections, where he will serve the remainder of his sentence.