The stabbing death of Jose Orozco brings Harris County's recent suspected domestic violence killings to four, the sheriff's office says. Silhouettes representing the murder victims of domestic violence adorn the walls of Westland Baptist Church as part of the Silent Witness program in 2021 in Katy. By Claire Goodman / Staff Writer

Authorities are investigating the murder of a 23-year-old Monday night as a domestic violence-related homicide, which follows several reported domestic violence-related killings in Harris County in recent weeks.

Sheriff's deputies Monday night found 23-year-old Jose Orozco unresponsive with multiple stab wounds at a northeast Houston residence in the 4400 block of Sandydale Lane, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on X. Deputies were called to the home as part of a welfare check, Gonzalez said. Orozco was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prior to Orozco's murder Monday night, there have been at least three killings since Sept. 21 that authorities are investigating as being related to domestic violence. The Harris County Sheriff's Office has responded to approximately 23 domestic violence-related homicides in 2026 so far, Thomas Gilliland, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, told the Chronicle Tuesday.


Houston Police assisted sheriff's deputies in locating a suspect. They arrested Jaime Castillo, 20 who was believed to be in an intimate relationship with Orozco, according to Gonzalez.

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Castillo, who has no prior criminal history in Harris Count was, according to court records, charged with murder. Charging documents say Castillo allegedly stabbed Orozco with a knife. Castillo is in custody at the Harris County Jail, and his bail has not yet been set.

The Harris County District Attorney's Office recently announced a partnership with the county attorney's office to increase free protective-order services for victims of family violence. Under the new partnership, the DA's Domesti

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