Florida's Gustavo Castao suspected in daughter's disappearance loses eye to police Taser

May 2024 · 4 minute read

The week-long search for a missing Florida mother and her nine-year-old daughter has left police empty-handed, and the girl's father without an eye.

Gustavo Castaño was shot with a Taser gun after he stabbed himself in the neck in front of police when they discovered him inside his truck in the parking lot of a Home Depot in Hialeah Gardens.

It was the exact same spot Castaño had dropped off Liliana Moreno, 43, and their daughter Daniela before the pair mysteriously disappeared on May 29. He was the last to see them.

Gustavo Castaño (pictured) lost his right eye after police shot him with a Taser gun as he stabbed himself in the neck while sitting in his truck at a Home Depot parking lot in Hialeah Gardens, Florida Castaño's eye had to be removed by doctors after a Taser prong went through it

Gustavo Castaño (pictured) lost his right eye after police shot him with a Taser gun as he stabbed himself in the neck while sitting in his truck at a Home Depot parking lot in Hialeah Gardens, Florida

It was the exact same spot Castaño had dropped off Liliana Moreno, 43, and their daughter Daniela (both pictured) before the pair mysteriously disappeared on May 30. He was the last to see them

It was the exact same spot Castaño had dropped off Liliana Moreno, 43, and their daughter Daniela (both pictured) before the pair mysteriously disappeared on May 30. He was the last to see them

Police said that the Taser was meant to subdue Castaño, who was hit in the eye after he raised the box cutter as a shield 'to deflect the prongs from the electronic control device', a statement read.

Doctors had to remove Castaño's right eye to take out the prongs. Michael Grieco, Castaño's lawyer, said he will likely remain hospitalized for another week to recover, according to WPLG.

Grieco said that they plan to address the officer's 'excessive use' of the Taser' last Friday in 'due time', releasing a picture that showed Castaño's eye swollen shut.

'Every report going out said my client tired to hurt himself and that he's the central figure in this investigation', Grieco told the Miami Herald

Police immediately suspected foul play in the mother and daughter's disappearance. Moreno's wallet and purse were found inside her locked apartment

Police immediately suspected foul play in the mother and daughter's disappearance. Moreno's wallet and purse were found inside her locked apartment

'But they conveniently left out the part where they shot him in the eyeball with a Taster. The self-inflicted wounds are not why he's in the hospital. The cuts on his neck are superficial.' 

Meanwhile, the mystery has only deepened surrounding Castaño and the woman his lawyer claims was merely a co-parent to him. 

'The relationship was purely professional,' Grieco said of Castaño and Moreno, who were never married and do not live together. 

'Both worked in similar industries and knew each other for years.' 

'There was no romantic relationship. I have not heard about any ongoing dispute between them and I've talked to his family members.'   

Grieco said police have hurt their search for Moreno and Daniela by 'rushing to judgement' and naming Castaño a person of interest in the disappearance.

'He gave up his phone, his car, let them search his house,' Grieco said. 'He maintains his innocence.'

Miami-Dade police immediately suspected foul play after they received a call on May 31 from Moreno's sister in Colombia, who was worried after she had not heard from the mother in several days.

Investigators then found out Daniela had not been in school the previous Friday. They discovered that the front door of Moreno's apartment was locked, her purse and wallet inside.

Her car was sitting in the parking lot. 

Police and state wildlife officers have searched a nearby forest and wooded area, the canal behind the Home Depot and a warehouse owned by Castaño - but no clues have turned up.  

Grieco said Castaño had lunch with Moreno and her daughter before he dropped them off by the Home Depot last week. 

He would not comment on why Castaño had returned to the spot, or why he decided to harm himself.  

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Share Castaño had lunch with Moreno and her daughter before he dropped them off by the Home Depot (pictured) last week. Castaño's lawyer would not comment on why he returned to that spot to harm himself

Castaño had lunch with Moreno and her daughter before he dropped them off by the Home Depot (pictured) last week. Castaño's lawyer would not comment on why he returned to that spot to harm himself

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