Son's arrest shocks father

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Son's arrest shocks father
By BILL MILLER
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
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JOSE CASTRO
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DALLAS -- The father of a man charged in the random slaying of a north Dallas office worker said Wednesday that he was confused and saddened by the accusation against his son.

Acting on a tip, police arrested Jose Castro, 24, at his family's northwest Dallas home late Tuesday. He was in a Dallas County jail early Wednesday on a charge of capital murder with bail set at $750,000. Police said he is also wanted on immigration charges.

Karen LaFon, 51, of Garland was shot repeatedly about 5:20 p.m. Monday as she walked to her car after work.

Jose Castro's father, Heriberto Castro, said he was shocked when he saw an image taken by a surveillance camera of a man believed to be his son riding elevators for about eight minutes before following LaFon to the parking lot.

The images were released Tuesday and led to the tip that resulted in Jose Castro's arrest, police said.

Heriberto Castro said his son recently graduated from a computer training program at a local technical school and planned to take more classes early next year at a downtown Dallas campus. He said his son worked for a company that prepares income tax returns.

"We feel bad about all this that happened," the father said. "I don't know what happened with him."

Public records show that Jose Castro was serving 10 years' probation after receiving deferred adjudication in a 2005 aggravated robbery case in Richardson.

LaFon, the mother of two adult sons, was a manager for the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, a state agency for people with disabilities.

Investigators believe that LaFon was targeted because she was carrying bags, said Senior Cpl. Donna Hernandez, a Dallas police spokeswoman. The killer did not take any of the items, she said.

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Posted on Tue, Dec. 05, 2006

Woman slain outside Dallas office
By BILL MILLER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Karen LaFon had enough talent to excel in private industry, a supervisor said, but helping others became a vocation.

LaFon, 51, of Garland was slain Monday outside a Greenville Avenue office building where she was a manager for the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, or DARS. The state agency helps people with physical and mental disabilities.

She was shot multiple times about 5:20 p.m. while walking to her car, said Sgt. Larry Lewis, a homicide detective. Schepps Dairy announced it was offering a $10,000 reward to help catch the killer, NBC5 reported.

The gunman, whose image was captured by a video surveillance camera, was apparently looking for someone to rob inside the building south of Northwest Highway on Greenville, and followed her to the parking lot, Lewis said.

Bob Marx, a regional director for the agency, said LaFon worked for more than 20 years at DARS offices in Garland and Dallas.

LaFon, a divorced mother of two adult sons, excelled at working with those who sought the agency's services, helping them to improve their abilities to function by arranging modifications to their homes and cars. She recently earned a bachelor's degree in rehabilitative services, Marx said.

"Karen worked to improve her skills and knowledge to work up the career ladder, but while helping others along the way,'' he said.

LaFon was promoted in July to regional programs support manager for the agency's division of blind services. Her new office was in the Greenville Avenue building in Dallas.

Marx said LaFon formed close bonds with her co-workers, especially in the Garland office where she started as an entry-level clerk.

"I can't think of another word other than devastated,'' Marx said of the grieving staff. "She was just well-liked by everybody. She took a real personal interest in those around her; the group in Garland was like an extended family.''

Police said they hoped to catch her killer by releasing images of him from the video.

"We believe the suspect was in the building looking for a robbery victim," Lewis said. "He followed her, shot her, and then attempted to take her property."

The suspect, he added, appears to be white or Hispanic with very short hair. He wore light-colored pants and a jacket and he appeared to be in his 20s or 30s.

"We definitely have some pictures we want the public to see," he said. "After that I'm sure we're going to get some calls."

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He said his son worked for a company that prepares income tax returns.

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Oh....nothing like letting someone loose with vital information! Wonder how much he made with that side business? I know I've had my license and ss# copied at a couple of the tax companies....... :roll: