Mother Arrested in 2020 Death of Newborn Twin Boys Found in Bronx Alley

Nearly four years after the lifeless bodies of two newborn boys were discovered in a Bronx alley, the NYPD has made an arrest in the heartbreaking case that left a community searching for answers.

Stephanie Castillo, 36, was taken into custody on Friday, July 25, and charged with multiple counts of murder in connection with the deaths of her twin sons. The arrest follows new developments in the investigation, including a breakthrough in forensic DNA evidence that identified her as the biological mother of the children.

The infants, named Zeke and Zane by responding officers, were found in November 2020 behind a building in Claremont, a neighborhood in the Bronx. One of the newborns had suffered head trauma, with an umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and was partially covered with a pet training pad. The other was discovered 20 feet away inside a black plastic bag, showing no visible injuries. Both were believed to be less than 24 hours old.

According to the New York Post, Castillo had reportedly kept her pregnancy a secret. Investigators said the case remained cold for years until DNA retrieved from the crime scene was linked to Castillo through a genealogical database. A discarded beverage container collected by investigators further confirmed the match, allowing police to build the final connection.

“This was a case our detectives never gave up on,” said NYPD Assistant Chief Michael Baldassano. “They held a funeral for these children. Every year, they returned to honor them. And now, finally, they’ve brought closure.”

Castillo has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, manslaughter, and murder with intent. On Friday, she was led from the 44th Precinct to the same alleyway where the twins were originally found—marking a full-circle moment in the investigation.

Renford Cole, the 75-year-old man who discovered the children’s remains, told reporters that the arrest brought him a sense of relief. “This is really a big burden lifted off my mind,” he said. “Those were babies—innocent babies. I’ll sleep better tonight knowing the person responsible has been found.”

The case left a deep mark on those involved. In September 2021, a funeral was held for the twins, attended by more than 20 NYPD officers. The boys were buried together in a single white casket adorned with white flowers and a blue bow.

Cole recalled the day he found the bodies as if it had just happened. “I saw the trash bag early in the morning,” he said. “But I thought it was garbage. People threw trash back there all the time.”

Police credited the resolution of the case to a combination of DNA science, surveillance footage, interviews, and the relentless efforts of forensic investigators.

While the charges now begin their path through the legal system, the arrest closes one of the most painful chapters in recent memory—a reminder of the fragility of life, and the unwavering pursuit of truth, no matter how long it takes.