The death of 31-year-old Filipino worker Gerome Zarate De Castro in Cyprus is now under investigation as a case of premeditated murder, after an autopsy revealed stab-like wounds inconsistent with an accidental fall.
De Castro, an employee at City of Dreams Cyprus, was found seriously injured outside his apartment in Limassol around 1:00 a.m. on September 28, 2025. He was rushed to Limassol General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead several hours later.
Autopsy findings contradict initial claim of accidental fall
A police report from the Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order, shared with TGFM, initially listed the incident as a “fall and injury from height.” However, the autopsy conducted by forensic pathologists Dr. Angeliki Papetta and Dr. Orthodoxos Orthodoxou later determined that De Castro’s death resulted from haemorrhagic shock due to internal bleeding from a ruptured spleen.
The report further noted that the pathologists found two penetrating wounds in the abdomen, which could not be explained by injuries consistent with a fall. “In the absence of findings to justify the wounds being caused by a fall, reasonable suspicions arise that they were caused by a mechanism requiring penetrating-type trauma,” the findings stated.
No sharp object was found at the scene that could justify the wounds, leading investigators to treat the case as suspicious and potentially criminal.
Girlfriend arrested, then released pending investigation
The girlfriend of De Castro, a 26-year-old Filipina, was arrested on September 29, 2025 under a court warrant after authorities reclassified the case as premeditated murder. A court-ordered remand was issued the following day to allow investigators time to gather evidence.
In her initial statement to investigators, she claimed the couple argued before the incident and that she locked herself in a bedroom. She stated she later heard a noise and found De Castro outside the building.
After 16 days in police custody, she was released on October 15, 2025, citing insufficient evidence at the time. The release came pending ongoing police investigations.
Family appeals for justice
De Castro’s sister, Mary Rose De Castro, said the family is devastated by the incident and is appealing to both the Philippine government and the public for help in seeking justice.
“My brother was a hardworking OFW who supported his three children. He didn’t deserve to die this way,” she shared with TGFM. “We just want the truth to come out and for the person responsible to be held accountable.”
She also expressed frustration that, while the story was reported in Cyprus, no Philippine news outlets initially covered her brother’s death. “He sacrificed for his family and for his country. He deserves to be remembered and for his story to be heard,” she added.
Ongoing investigation
According to official records from the Cyprus Police, the investigation remains open. The documents show that the case continues to be handled as premeditated murder, with laboratory examinations and further inquiries still pending.
The translated death certificate issued by the Pafos District Officer confirms that De Castro died on September 28, 2025, in Lemesos (Limassol). The cause of death was listed as internal bleeding from a ruptured spleen, consistent with the findings of the forensic report.
As of October 29, 2025, De Castro’s remains were being transported to the Philippines, where his family awaited his arrival at Clark International Airport in Pampanga before he would be laid to rest in Capas, Tarlac.
Documents referenced: Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order Police Reports (HQ 05.24.067; LIM09226), Doctor’s Certificate of Death (890/2025), Death Certificate issued by the Pafos District Officer, and translated autopsy report by Dr. Angeliki Papetta.
