California Man Becomes First U.S. Citizen Extradited to El Salvador, Faces Aggravated Femicide Charges After Abandoning Toddler Son

Michael Castillo Murga, 27, of Beaumont, California, was extradited to El Salvador to face murder charges after allegedly killing a woman in front of their toddler.

A 27-year-old Southern California man has been extradited to El Salvador to face murder charges after allegedly killing a woman in front of their young son — then abandoning the child. Michael Alejandro Castillo Murga, a dual U.S.-Salvadoran citizen from Beaumont, California, became the first U.S. citizen ever extradited to El Salvador, according to the DOJ. He faces aggravated femicide charges in connection with a 2019 killing. Castillo Murga had been held in U.S. custody since October 2024 and was surrendered on Wednesday to Salvadoran authorities to stand trial. The toddler was left behind by Castillo Murga following the alleged murder, adding a child abandonment dimension to the case.

Why it matters

The case highlights the use of extradition treaties to return individuals to face serious violent crimes in their home countries. A young child was directly affected, both as a witness and as an abandoned dependent.

What's next

Castillo Murga will face prosecution in El Salvador on the murder charges.

Key facts

• Michael Alejandro Castillo Murga, 27, is from Beaumont, California
• He was charged with murdering a woman in front of their toddler son
• He allegedly abandoned the child following the killing
• Castillo Murga had been in U.S. custody since October 2024
• He was extradited to El Salvador by U.S. officials to face charges there

Bias & framing notes

Only one source was available for this story. The reporting draws directly from a U.S. Attorney's Office statement, which is a credible official source but represents only the prosecution's framing. No defense response or additional independent corroboration was present.

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