Woman killed in City Heights apartment ID'd, boyfriend pleads not guilty

Authorities publicly identified a woman who was fatally injured last weekend in her apartment, allegedly at the hands of her live-in boyfriend.

San Diego Police officers responded to an apartment in the 4300 block of 54th Street at about 4 a.m. Saturday, after a man reported that his girlfriend was unconscious and unresponsive. Once police arrived, they found Nancy Del Alto, 35, suffering from facial injuries.

“They also noted blood around several areas inside the small apartment,” SDPD Lt. Lou Maggi said.

Paramedics took Del Alto to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Detectives questioned Del Alto’s boyfriend, 38-year-old Jose Manuel Castaneda, then arrested him on suspicion of inflicting the fatal injuries on her.

The family told NBC 7 that the couple had been together for almost 6 years, but noticed that the relationship turned controlling and Del Alto became more distant from her family.

“She kept distancing away from me every day, she would say she was either working or with him [Castaneda],” said María Hernández, De Alto’s mom.

On Wednesday afternoon, Castaneda pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder and remains in custody without bail.

The family is hoping justice is served.

“Justice would be that they don’t take him out and that he stays there, that he rots in jail,” said Kenia Estrada, Del Alto’s sister-in-law.

Del Alto’s mom has a message for others in the same situation, saying, “Talk about it and don’t let it get to this point.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds for a funeral.

Castaneda faces up to 25 years to life in state prison if convicted.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.

Click here for domestic violence resources in San Diego County and here for the Spanish version. Click here for considerations for people experiencing domestic violence