Man accused in children’s deaths in Baltimore

BALTIMORE – A man killed his three young children at a downtown hotel room, then called the front desk to report their deaths Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Police officers who responded to the 10th-floor room at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards found the three bodies and Mark Castillo, 41, with minor cuts that appeared to have been self-inflicted, police spokesman Sterling Clifford said. He did not know how the children were killed.

“Why he brought them here to do this is something we don’t know yet,” Clifford said.

Police identified the children as Anthony, 6, Austin, 4, and Athena, 2.

Castillo, of Silver Spring, which is about 35 miles south of Baltimore, was taken to a hospital for treatment and was being questioned by investigators, Clifford said.

Clifford said investigators determined the children hadn’t been shot or stabbed.

The children’s mother was notified, Clifford said. It wasn’t clear who had legal custody, he said.

An online search of Maryland court records showed Mark and Amy Castillo were involved in a child custody dispute.

A telephone call Sunday night to a number listed for Amy W. Castillo in Silver Spring was answered by a voice mail message that said the caller had reached the home of Amy Castillo and Anthony, Austin and Athena.