32-year-old David Castillo went missing on August 12th, and his body was found off the George Price Highway on August 22nd. Now, it's the 27th and the family still has not been able to bury the body. That's because they say they're being given the run-around. The dates for the autopsy keep changing and, almost a week later, the grieving family is frustrated. Today, Castillo's brother, Philip Ramsey, said that he was told by the director of the National Forensic Science Service, Gian Cho - whom he mistakenly referred to as "Julian" - that they would try to do the autopsy today. Well, that hasn't happened, and the family feels they are out of options.
Phillip Ramsey, Brother of Deceased
"I called the media houses due to the fact that we are being pushed around to get the body of my brother to lay him to rest and its really getting frustrating, because my mom stated to me that they told her on Monday, then they called her and say its going to be on Wednesday instead. Then I called on Wednesday, because we were not getting any kind of information coming forth telling us you know what, yes it is release on Wednesday. So when I call the director Mr. Julian Cho, he stated that he apologizes about the date that was given, because he did not set it for any of those, however, he is personally setting it for Friday, tentatively and they will let us know if the date has changed. Now, today is Friday, I had to call to find out if they are going to do it or not and then they say that the police will get back to the family and let them know. I called my siblings and ask them if the police had gotten in touch with them and they said no, nobody called them."
"So, now I personally called Sergeant Humes who is in charge of the case who stated that they are not releasing the body, because the science lab has not scheduled him for an autopsy. I understand that there are priority cases, but his body is decomposed. Why is there a wait for almost a week after finding his body for him to be buried? If it's in a decomposed state, it should have been bury the day it was found, at least that's what I have seen and know of throughout they found a missing person decomposed body. why is he still in the morgue?"
Reporter
"Are you saying they are doing other autopsies ahead of your brother's?"
Phillip Ramsey, Brother of Deceased
"I was told that 2 bodies went in and that his one was pushed back because of that. I am getting frustrated. Just give me my brother, I need to lay him to rest."
Reporter
"Have you contacted Mr. Cho again?"
Phillip Ramsey, Brother of Deceased
"I called the science lab today, I didn't speak to him - whosoever answered the phone I don't know, but they are telling me that they cannot release the body because the police department, it's a police matter. I call the police; the police say the lab is not going to release the body because it's not schedule to be done. So it's a pointing of finger back and forth and miscommunication somewhere, but yet nobody is giving us the information we need."
We reached out to Gian Cho today, he clarified that he did not assure RAMSEY the post mortem examination would be today.
He told the Ramsey family that the autopsy depended on the doctor's caseload. He explained that this week and last week have been above normal in terms of cases and the doctors were not able to do the postmortem today since older cases are still being done before Castillo's. Cho also noted that these days, autopsies can take over a week to get done.
Ramsey said that the pain at losing a brother has compounded with the feeling of helplessness and frustration at not being able to bury him. He explained what the family is going through, and added that they even fear for their lives because of the actions of the police department.
Phillip Ramsey, Brother of Deceased
"I am super frustrated; I am literally in my semester at Galen University trying and I can't focus on my school work. I am also on my first part of my internship and its weighing on me personally, because I am not getting the closure I need, I can't see him go into the ground. Yes, I got closure when we found him, but to complete that process I need to lay him to rest."
Reporter
"How is your mother doing?"
Phillip Ramsey, Brother of Deceased
"I can't say, because my mother is taking it very hard. If the body is here Monday, I can't be here, because my internship has already begun. I am supposed to be in school prepping, doing my units and my plans and stuff to be ready for my internship and I can't do this with the fact that my brother needs to be laid to rest and it's not being done. There is no sense etiquette and professionalism amongst the police department, because what's also frustrating is the fact that we are being told that the police is carrying news to this person and that person. There is no confidentiality within the police department and its really annoying me, because they are putting other people at risk whilst the police are going to take information to other people. My siblings are at risk for whatever, because of the information being passed on. I won't say what information is being passed on, but it's getting ridiculous, because there is no professionalism within the police department. They speak to people as if though they are crap, they have no PR."
Reporter
"And they haven't given you any update on the investigation?"
Phillip Ramsey, Brother of Deceased
"Nothing forthcoming."
Castillo disappeared after he went to buy at a nearby gacho shop close to curfew. He got a call and told the shopkeeper he would be back for his food, but never returned.
