Dominican merengue singer’s wife murdered in home robbery after serving lemonade to twisted killers
Hospitality turned into horror.
Merengue singer Julián Oro Duro’s wife was murdered after she unwittingly served lemonade to her killers — one of whom confessed to the twisted killing on YouTube, authorities said.
Kevin Germán, 23, told Apogeo TV that he and Lawrence “Chiquito” Liranzo, 18, were welcomed into the Santo Domingo Oeste, Dominican Republic home on Sunday by the singer’s wife, Zeneida Castillo. She had recognized Liranzo, an employee of the singer.
Castillo, 60, initially offered them water before she changed her mind and prepared lemonade, Germán said. They chatted for about 40 minutes before Liranzo conked Castillo’s head with a flower vase.
Castillo briefly moved while she was lying on the floor before Liranzo choked her. Germán, who claims he never touched Castillo, said Liranzo threatened to kill him if he tried to leave the home.
Liranzo allegedly locked Castillo’s mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, inside a bedroom before allegedly stabbing Castillo at least three times. He then contacted one of their two accomplices, Julián Oro Duro’s righthand man and driver, Phillips Tejada, who told them where they could find a luggage filled with cash.
Instead of leaving the residence with the money, Liranzo and Germán were told by Tejada to remain in the home until the 58-year-old artist — whose real name is Gilberto Sarante — arrived from a show because they also had to steal his gold necklace.
Sarante arrived at the home Monday around 1 a.m. and was assaulted by Liranzo, who struck him with a mahogany statue before they took the chain and fled.
The singer, whose biggest hit was “La Cabaña” in 2005, was rushed to an area hospital, where he was treated for an intracranial hemorrhage and craniofacial injuries. He underwent surgery Thursday and was released Friday.
Germán turned himself in Wednesday evening after recording the interview. Tejada, Liranzo and Juan Hernández were each arrested separately Wednesday and Thursday.
Their first court appearance was scheduled Friday but was then changed to Sept. 30.
Authorities recovered over $30,000 in cash, 196,000 Dominican pesos — around $3,000 — and two watches, including a Rolex, as well as other personal valuables from each of the defendant’s homes.
Castillo was laid to rest at a Santo Domingo Este cemetery, where artists called on Dominican authorities get tough on rampant crime.
“This has gotten out of hand,” music producer Chino Mendéz told local newspaper Diario Libre.
Comedian and musician Andrés Martínez compared crime in the Caribbean island with the lawlessness that engulfed El Salvador before President Nayib Bukele took office in 2019 and reduced the homicide rate.
“That is how the gangs in El Salvador started [before] Bukele – by committing crimes,” he said.
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