From behind bars Jose Simental, 20, said he had nothing do with the murder of Mark Ysasaga who was 15 at the time he went missing in June of 2012.
The Lubbock County Medical Examiner announced a positive ID Wednesday morning for Mark’s body which was found Saturday near 120th Street and Highway 87.
In a 20-minute visit from jail with KLBK’s Brittany Escobar on Monday, Simental said he was able to remain calm because he had nothing to hide.
He agreed to an exclusive one-on-one interview with Escobar, however his attorney Bill Wischkaemper declined the interview saying Simental has yet to be indicted by a grand jury on the murder charge.
No camera or recording device was allowed. Escobar was not even allowed to use a pen and paper.
Simental said he lived with Castro as roommates in a house in the 3100 block of 27th Street, which is believed to be Mark’s last known location, and the home where Mark’s DNA was found.
Simental said he, Mark and Christian Castro, 19, would hang out and met through trying to make “quick money.” He referred to both as “little buddy.” Simental was serving time for burglary when he was charged in mid-May for the murder of Mark.
During the jail visit with Escobar, Simental claimed he told his attorney he wants to go to trial with no plea bargains and no deals. He said he agreed to take a lie detector test.
Simental raised questions about Castro who has been named as a “person of interest” in Mark’s murder.
Simental said he’s been following the news in this case and saw Castro was arrested for a home invasion, named a person of interest, and the body was found. He commented he thought it was suspicious Castro was arrested, the body was found and then the charges were dropped.
He said that Mark’s blood was found in Castro’s room. Castro has not been charged with Mark’s disappearance or murder.
At the end of the visit with Escobar, Simental said he was ready for his chance to prove he was innocent in the Ysasaga murder case and has become a different person since he was first arrested at the age of 17.
EverythingLubbock.com asked police if Castro would be charged with murder.
In response police said, “It’s an ongoing investigation. There is already a suspect in custody charged with the murder. It would be inappropriate to speculate about any other charges.”
Also, an open records request for more information about Castro is still pending with the Lubbock Police Department.