The search for Tyna Castillo, a 42-year-old woman who went missing more than a year ago, has come to a tragic end. Authorities discovered her body in the desert near Needles, California, on March 5, 2025. Castillo was reported missing on February 3, 2024, after friends lost contact with her in December 2023.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department conducted an extensive investigation that included eight search operations and the assistance of about 100 volunteers. Despite these efforts, the case went cold for several months. Detectives received limited cooperation from witnesses, which made the investigation challenging.
Castillo had traveled to Needles to visit someone, and it was during this visit that she disappeared. Investigators later received a tip suggesting she may have been killed at a residence in the area. After the case was taken over by the Cold Case Homicide Team in September 2024, new leads emerged, prompting further searches.
On May 6, 2025, authorities arrested Jared Winer in connection with her death. Winer was apprehended by Bullhead City police in Arizona on unrelated charges and is set to be extradited to California to face murder charges.
Castillo’s family described her as a creative person with a deep love for music and a strong ability to connect with others. Her disappearance and the subsequent discovery of her body have left a community in mourning.