False Report of Body in Attic Leads to Arrests in Del Rio
DEL RIO, TEXAS — A false report of a deceased person inside a home attic led to the arrest of two individuals Sunday afternoon after Del Rio police determined the call was unfounded and involved repeated misuse of emergency services.
According to the Del Rio Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 3:30 p.m. on December 14, 2025, to a residence in the 700 block of East 14th Street following a report claiming a body was located in the attic of the home.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with the resident, Gerald Castellanos, who had placed multiple calls reporting the alleged incident. Castellanos was accompanied by his girlfriend, Laretta Lu Villarreal. Both individuals insisted they had seen a body in the attic and demanded that officers remove it.
Police stated that officers were already familiar with both Castellanos and Villarreal due to a documented history of making false reports to 911 operators. As officers conducted their investigation, they determined that the report was unfounded and that no deceased individual was present inside the residence.
After being informed he was under arrest for making a false report to induce an emergency response, Castellanos became upset and physically resisted officers as they attempted to place him in handcuffs. During the arrest, Villarreal attempted to interfere with officers. She pulled away from police and struck an officer in the rib area, causing pain.
Officers deployed a department-issued Taser to subdue Villarreal. Castellanos was also subdued and handcuffed without further incident. A subsequent check of the residence confirmed there was no body inside the home and that the interior was clear.
Both individuals were transported to the Del Rio Police Department for processing and later transferred to the GEO Correctional Facility.
Gerald Castellanos, 45, was arrested and charged with False Report to Induce an Emergency Response and Resisting Arrest, Search, or Transportation. Laretta Lu Villarreal, 48, was arrested and charged with Assault on a Public Servant and Resisting Arrest, Search, or Transportation.
Police reminded the public that false emergency calls divert resources from real emergencies and can lead to serious legal consequences. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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