A man has been charged with shooting a woman to death and burying her in the desert after she went missing 18 months ago.

Tyna Castillo, 42, was last seen on December 11, 2023, and is believed to have left her home in Bullhead, Arizona, to meet a man in California.

Friends never heard from her again and couldn’t get hold of her, and she was eventually reported missing on February 4 last year.

Authorities looked into allegations that Castillo was killed at a residence in Needles, California, a remote town located on the Arizona border, close to the southern tip of Nevada.

‘Detectives contacted witnesses and people of interest in Castillo’s disappearance and received poor cooperation,’ police recounted.

‘The case went cold, and Castillo was not located.’

For a year, Castillo’s family and friends suspected what happened, but no witnesses would talk to police.

Tyna Castillo, 42, was last seen on December 11, 2023, and is believed to have left her home in Bullhead, Arizona, to meet a man in California

Pictured: Boaters cross the Arizona-California border on the Colorado River near Needles

They sent out a poster offering a $1,000 reward for information, and explaining what they believed to be the circumstances of her disappearance. 

‘She was visiting a guy out in Needles. His story is they got into it and he kicked her out,’ the poster read.

‘Apparently he left while she was packing and has nooo idea who picked her up or where she was going. His story has changed three times.’

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s cold case homicide team reopened the case last September and found new leads.

After eight different searches, the assistance of several other agencies and more than 100 volunteers, Castillo’s body was finally found on March 5.

Her remains were where her friends and family expected – in the desert outside Needles along the Colorado River, with at least one bullet wound.

Detectives eventually determined Jared Winer, 44, the man Castillo went to meet, allegedly shot her dead and issued an arrest warrant.

Bullhead City Police Department officers arrested Winer at a traffic stop on May 6, and he was charged with Castillo’s murder this week.

Jared Winer, 44, the man Castillo went to meet, allegedly shot her dead. He was charged with murder this week

Friends never heard from her again and couldn’t get hold of her, and she was eventually reported missing on February 4 last year

Relatives and acquaintances distributed a flyer offering a $1,000 reward for information and detailing what they thought were the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Her sister Cheryl Castillo formally announced her death with a tribute last week after Winer’s arrest. 

‘Everyone was drawn to my sister, Tyna Castillo. She lit up every room she entered, effortlessly becoming the heart of any group,’ she said.

‘She lived boldly, without fear of judgment, and was endlessly creative, witty, loving, and determined.

“It is with great sorrow that I convey the heartbreaking news of her death. Although her life was cut short, we find solace in the fact that she did not endure any suffering.”

‘The world has lost a bright light, and our hearts are broken. Tyna is survived by her two beloved children.’

Castillo grew up in Rosemead, California, with her parents John and Candy, sister Cheryl, and brother Robert.

‘She grew up playing second base in softball for the LadyHawks and continued her athletic journey at Rosemead High School,’ her obituary read.

‘Tyna had a bold spirit, often pushing the boundaries, and was surrounded by a loving circle of lifelong friends.’

Castillo had her first child, her daughter Alena, 26, when she was just 17 and moved to Arizona in 2010, where here son Steven, 11, was born.

Castillo pictured as a young girl in memorial photos

After eight different searches, the assistance of several other agencies and more than 100 volunteers, Castillo’s body was finally found on March 5

She worked at a law firm, studied nursing, and earned her degree in fashion design from Brooks College. 

‘She was creative, artsy, a great cook, and had a deep love for music. More than anything, Tyna had a remarkable ability to connect with others – rooted in her genuine acceptance of people as they were,’ the obituary read.

Police didn’t explain how she met Winer or the circumstances leading up to her alleged murder.

Winer has a long criminal history of drug and illegal firearm possession, and was one of seven people busted with 5,000 fentanyl pills and guns in Bullhead in 2023.

He was locked up in Mohave County Adult Detention Facility charge with murder, and also an outstanding warrant for a felony parole violation.

Winer will be extradited to California to face trial after his Arizona charge is dealt with.