PASCO, Wash. – A decades-old mystery in Franklin County is finally seeing resolution. Thanks to advancements in DNA technology, law enforcement has made significant progress in the 1997 murder case of 13-year-old Anna Pelayo.
Anna was found shot in the head in December 1997, and despite initial investigations, the case would remain cold for nearly 28 years. Her family, friends, and the community have been desperate for answers ever since.
Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond, who was a sergeant when the case began, shared his personal connection to the case. “I think probably I’m somewhere north of 100 homicides for more that I’ve worked in some form or fashion in my years. But always the death of kids, it gets to you, it eats at you,” he said.
Sheriff Raymond has been in law enforcement since 1982 and has witnessed many difficult cases. He stated, “I can only think of maybe a handful of cases, involving kids in those type of things in my career. And they’re always the toughest.”
Anna Pelayo’s mother showed unwavering strength over the years, ensuring her daughter was never forgotten.
New DNA technology recently provided a fresh perspective on the case. “You’re talking leaps in advancements in the last couple of years. We gather up all the evidence. We resubmitted it, which developed very strong suspects. Of course, one’s dead now,” Sheriff Raymond explained.
One of the two suspects in Anna’s murder died in 2018 from a suspected drug overdose. However, the other suspect, 51-year-old Jesse Castillo, is currently in the Franklin County Jail awaiting charges.
Sheriff Raymond expressed the importance of this development, saying, “I consider [us] lucky that we do have a viable suspect. He’s still alive. And we’re able to start helping with… delivering justice and closure for the family because you just have to look back at that. How would you feel if it was your daughter?”
This case stands out for Sheriff Raymond due to its impact on the Tri-Cities community. The advancement in DNA technology has brought long-awaited answers and a sense of closure to those affected by this tragedy.
