A man arrested in the death of his wife earlier this month was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder, according to a court affidavit.
Jose Carlos Romero, 43, had been hospitalized after the slaying of Rosa Dina Castro Orellano at their home at 6924 Grace Road to treat a wound on his neck. He was released from the hospital Thursday and taken to Pulaski County jail. In Romero’s mug shot, he’s wearing a bandage around his neck.
The affidavit revealed new details in the case, including that police recovered the suspected weapon in the slaying, a box cutter. Witnesses told police, according to the affidavit, that about 11 p.m. Dec. 12, they heard Orellano scream and saw Romero holding a bloody hammer. Orellano, with blood on her head, said, “He hit me, he hit me,” according to the affidavit.
Romero then purportedly walked behind her and slit her throat. He said, “It’s all over now,” before slashing his own throat with the box cutter and fleeing into the woods, according to the affidavit.
He later returned to the scene, shoeless and covered in blood, and was arrested, police reported.
Romero is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 4.
Arkansas, Pages 12 on 12/25/2013