On December 9, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Diana Stillwell contacted Irving police officers to report that she had been forcibly held and violently assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, 51-year-old Antonio Castillo. According to investigators, both Stillwell and Castillo are homeless and were living in a homeless encampment in East Irving near Loop 12.
Stillwell told officers she ended her relationship with Castillo around December 1 and had begun staying in a friend’s tent within the same encampment. On or about December 7, Castillo allegedly located her in a nearby tent, produced a small hatchet or axe, and dragged her by the hair back to his own tent. She reported that Castillo then held her against her will for approximately two days.
During that time, Stillwell stated she was repeatedly assaulted. She told officers Castillo punched and kicked her and struck her with the back end of the axe. When she attempted to escape or call for help, Castillo allegedly prevented her from doing so by beating her to the point of unconsciousness and strangling her. According to the victim, these assaults continued throughout the two-day period, leaving her unable to safely leave the tent.
Stillwell was eventually able to escape and contact police on December 9. She was transported to Parkland Hospital, where she was treated for severe bruising and swelling to her face and body, as well as a broken hand.
Investigators also learned that Castillo was already under active bond conditions prohibiting any contact with Stillwell. Those conditions stemmed from a previous arrest in May 2025 in Irving, where Castillo was charged with Assault Against a Family Member with a prior conviction.
A couple of days later, he was located. During an in-custody interview, Castillo admitted to preventing Stillwell from leaving and acknowledged assaulting her. He was arrested and booked into the Irving Jail on December 11, 2025, at 1:47 a.m.
Castillo is charged with Domestic Violence Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Violation of Bond related to the prior case.
