A man responsible for the savage near-beheading death of the mother of his child with a Samurai sword was given 26 years to life in state prison, bringing an end to the trial of a crime that horrified not only those who witnessed it on the street, but the entire Bay Area and beyond. 

Jose Landaeta received 25 years to life for first degree murder, plus one year for use of a deadly weapon — a sword. He must also pay $20,000 in restitution and court fines, plus more restitution to the woman’s family in amounts to be determined, according to San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe.  

“Justice was done today and while we can never bring back the victim, we are able to give the victim’s family a sense of closure in knowing the defendant will be locked up for most, if not all, of the rest of his life,” said Wagstaffe in an email Tuesday.  

  • Danielle Gannon, left, consoles her son, Martin Castro, after his daughters murderer, Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison during a Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 hearing in Redwood City, Calif. (Nicholas Mazzoni/Redwood City Pulse via Bay City News)
  • Martin Castro, father of victim Karina Castro, hugs Maya Castro in Redwood City, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 after Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. (Nicholas Mazzoni/Redwood City Pulse via Bay City News)

Judge Lisa Novak said while imposing her sentence that it was the most difficult case she has ever presided over due to the brutality of the crime.  

Landaeta was 34 when he attacked the mother of his child, Karina Castro, on  Sept. 8, 2022 in San Carlos. Castro had a protective order against Landaeta, but during a violent argument with her that morning, he attacked her with a Samurai sword, slashing her numerous times to point that her head was almost severed, Wagstaffe said.  

The whole crime took place on the street in front of multiple people, who then watched Landaeta walk away and put the bloody sword in his car. He was apprehended the same day.  

According to Wagstaffe, Landaeta has a history of mental health problems.  

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.