February 16, 2026 | By: Alyssa Bice

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Guadalupe Alvarado and her son, Juan Castro, frequently visited the beach to swim and unwind. “It didn’t matter what month it was,” Guadalupe said. “It could have been freezing, and he’d dive into the water.”

In 2013, those visits came to an end when Juan Castro and his girlfriend went to the store in Fresno, California. Juan was shot, and his wounds were fatal. His murder remains unsolved.

Juan grew up in Fresno, California. When he was young, he liked going to the park, playing soccer, and visiting the Boys & Girls Club. His mother remembers him being popular among his peers and always running off with his friends. Although charismatic, young Juan tended to be mischievous from time to time. “He was always getting in trouble in school,” Guadalupe said. “We laugh about it now and say, ‘I can’t believe Juan used to do this. How would he think I’d let that fly? Or let that go?’”

In his teen years, Juan became caught up in trouble. He left school and attended Sierra Ridge Academy in San Andreas, California, a residential treatment-focused educational program for at-risk youth. According to the facility’s website, it uses a “nationally recognized, evidence-based intake assessment to develop an Assessment Summary that evaluates each youth’s individual strengths, specific needs, and pressing vulnerabilities.”

“He was there for 11 months,” Guadalupe said. “He graduated and got his high school diploma.”

After Sierra Ridge Academy, Juan grew closer to his stepbrother, Bernardino Valdivia. Their friends and family referred to them, lovingly, as “butt cheeks” because they were so close.

“We were stuck together and never left each other’s sides,” Bernardino said. “When you would see him, you knew I was somewhere around. From 2009 to the day he passed, I was by his side the whole time. He was the brother I always wanted.”

During this time, Juan was planning out his future. He debated going to college or trade school. “He wanted to go back to school, and he was interested in being a mechanic,” Bernardino said. “He wanted to build old-school cars from the ground up.”

A memorable moment shared by Bernardino, “Once we went swimming, and we were jumping off the diving board. He was trying to get me to jump harder,” Bernardino said. “He finally convinced me, but I ended up diving nose-first. I shot back up, and I was so dizzy.” Juan jumped in and helped Bernardino out of the pool. Almost immediately after the rescue, Juan realized he had jumped in with his brand-new sneakers. “He was like, ‘Oh no! My Jordans!’ Bernardino said. “He started taking them off and went to throw them in the dryer, and I walked up and said, ‘It’s alright, bro. I’m alive.’ He looked back, and he was like, ‘I’m sorry, brother. I just bought these! You know me and my shoes.’”

Juan wanted to move away, and he didn’t want to live in so much violence. He didn’t want to be around guns or drugs. He knew that if he removed himself from it, he would achieve something big in the future.

On February 16, 2013, Juan and his girlfriend went to a convenience store, where an altercation occurred. After, the two of them drove to a home on W. Valencia Avenue in Fresno, California. As they walked inside, a car pulled up to the house, and shots were fired. Both Juan and his girlfriend tried to evade the bullets. But Juan was fatally injured at the age of 22.

Guadalupe remains disappointed that her son doesn’t have justice. Juan died before he could continue his education as he had hoped, but his memories still live on in his loved ones.

“His smile was to die for,” Bernardino said. “His smile would light up the whole room. You could be on your darkest day, and you see him smile, and it would bring everything out of you. I loved that about him.”

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Anyone with information concerning Juan Casto’s unsolved homicide is asked to call the Fresno Police Department at (559) 621‑2400. To remain anonymous and possibly eligible for a reward, call Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867.

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