Boyfriend booked on murder suspicion after woman found with trauma inside Colina Del Sol apartment

Early-morning call leads to death investigation in Mid-City neighborhood

A woman in her 30s was found critically injured inside an apartment in San Diego’s Colina Del Sol neighborhood early Friday morning, and her boyfriend was later taken into custody on suspicion of murder, police said.

Officers were dispatched at about 3:50 a.m. to the 4300 block of 54th Street after a report of an unresponsive woman. Inside an apartment unit, police found the woman with apparent facial trauma. Paramedics transported her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police also reported blood in multiple areas within the apartment, a detail that prompted a homicide response and the involvement of specialized investigators.

Arrest at the scene; case routed to homicide and domestic-violence investigators

The reporting party, identified by police as Jose Manuel Casteneda, 38, was taken into custody at the scene. Police said he will be charged on suspicion of murder. Detectives assigned to the department’s homicide detail and its Domestic Violence Unit are investigating.

The woman’s name was not released as of the initial police announcement. Police did not publicly describe the circumstances leading up to the emergency call or provide a timeline for when the injuries may have occurred.

What is known—and what remains unconfirmed

• Location: 4300 block of 54th Street, Colina Del Sol.

• Time of response: Approximately 3:50 a.m. Friday.

• Initial observations: Apparent facial trauma and blood reported inside the apartment.

• Custody status: A 38-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.

• Pending details: Victim identification, a confirmed cause and manner of death, and whether additional witnesses or evidence informed the arrest decision.

Next procedural steps likely to shape the public record

In cases involving an in-custody suspect and a death under investigation, detectives typically work to establish a comprehensive timeline through interviews, physical evidence processing, and medical findings. A formal determination of cause and manner of death generally requires medical examination and investigative review, and charging decisions can be refined as the case develops.

Authorities asked anyone with information about the case to contact the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

The investigation remained active Friday, and police indicated additional details may be released as the case progresses.