by Mindy Aguon

Guam - 31-year-old John Jesse Castro was arrested late this afternoon accused of beating a 23-month-old girl to death. Castro was picked up by the Guam Police Department's Criminal Justice Strike Force officers just after midnight.

Criminal Investigation Division agents then conducted an interview and this afternoon arrested Castro on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated assault, family violence, and child abuse. The medical examiner on Monday confirmed that the toddler was murdered. She died from blunt force trauma to her stomach.

According to police, Castro was last seen around noon on Saturday at this home on Tun Luis Tugu Street in Yigo. The toddler was found non-responsive at the home on Saturday afternoon.

Castro is being held behind bars and is likely to appear before a judge on Wednesday afternoon.