On March 20, 2026, a Maricopa County judge sentenced Rueben Xavier Rocha to life in prison for the 2023 killing of 20-year-old Jordin Miranda Castillo, who was shot inside her Glendale apartment while her toddler was home. The punishment follows a three-week jury trial earlier this year that replayed a harrowing 911 call and detailed witness testimony. Castillo's death and the courtroom saga drew heavy local attention and renewed focus on domestic-violence prevention in the West Valley.
According to 12News, the judge in Maricopa County Superior Court imposed a life term and said the most serious count required a natural life sentence. Rocha had been convicted earlier this year, and local reporting along with court records show multiple guilty findings tied to the June 4, 2023 shooting.
How the attack unfolded
Prosecutors and witnesses told jurors that Rocha climbed onto Castillo’s third-floor balcony at an apartment near 51st and Northern avenues, forced his way against the sliding glass door and opened fire while Castillo was on the phone with 911. The gunfire killed Castillo and wounded two friends inside the unit, and one woman hid Castillo’s 2-year-old daughter in a bathroom to protect her, according to reporting by Law&Crime. Police say Rocha fled the scene but turned himself in the following day.
Charges and sentence
Court filings show Rocha was convicted on nine counts, including first-degree premeditated murder, aggravated assault, burglary and disorderly conduct, per local reporting. Coverage by AZFamily/KOLD and other outlets documented the jury's verdict, and 12News reported the judge's decision to impose a life term at the March 20 hearing.
Family members who sat through the trial said the verdict brought some accountability even as their grief stayed close to the surface. "She was so strong, she was so independent," Castillo’s aunt Mercedes Castillo told ABC15, and family advocates have used the case to push awareness about domestic-violence resources.
Police reports and news coverage note that Castillo had secured an order of protection against Rocha before the June 2023 attack. Defense filings and reporting also state that Rocha's attorney told the court he surrendered to authorities within 24 hours of the shooting, details that became part of the record considered at trial and sentencing.
What comes next
With a life sentence now in place, the case shifts into the post-conviction phase, where defense lawyers can pursue appeals or other relief under Arizona law. Castillo’s relatives and local advocates say they plan to keep working on outreach and education aimed at preventing similar domestic-violence tragedies in the Valley.
