Sister of woman who died in Boone County shooting shares her story

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The sister of a woman who found dead in a vehicle in Boone County over the weekend is sharing her sister's story.

The body of Misty Guzman-Castro, 43, was found Saturday evening in the 2400 block of North Lake Of the Woods Road. The Boone County Sheriff's Office wrote in a social media post that the woman was shot and killed.

Isaiah Goins, 26, was arrested Sunday afternoon and is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with her death. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. He has a confined docket hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 29 and a preliminary set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21.

According to court documents in previous reporting, Goins met the victim and got into her car Saturday night before pulling out a gun on Lake of the Woods Road, demanding that she let him out. When Guzman-Castro pulled onto Geyser Road and stopped, Goins allegedly shot her during an argument and ran from the scene, previous reporting indicates.

A deputy later found the car next to a house, where it had rolled to a stop but not hit the building, the probable cause statement says.

Guzman-Castro's sister, Melissa Rubio, told ABC 17 News that the victim and Goins had been in a relationship for about three-and-a-half months. She said Guzman-Castro had recently found peace after surviving years of sex trafficking and drug addiction. A mother of four, Guzman-Castro had just graduated from drug court and was working to rebuild her life and her relationship with her children.

Rubio said her sister’s chance at a fresh start was taken from her too soon.

"She resolved to changed her life around and she did that she really worked really hard to change her life," Rubio said. "This man just comes and steals that joy and everything,"

According to Rubio, her sister was in St. Louis on Saturday and returned to Columbia in the evening.

She said Goins told Guzman-Castro he needed help to fix a flat tire and Guzman-Castro came to help.

"He jumped in her car, we know he fired [a] shot, that first shot missed her and that second shot hit her rib," Rubio said. "Once she was unconscious he locked the doors, put it in neutral, and then gave it shove down the hill where it almost hit house,"

While Goins is charged with second-degree murder, Rubio believes the charges should be greater.

"From text messages to I have a flat tire, to him jumping in her car to shooting her in cold blood that shows intent that man came with a gun he knew what he was going to do," she said.

Rubio said she’s willing to go the extra mile to get justice for her sister, no matter how long it takes.

"If I have to get an attorney to fight for her rights or move it out of Boone Bounty because I feel like she may not get a fair trial because of all the things she's lived in her life but thats not her,"

In an email to ABC 17 News Thursday afternoon Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson said, "This is a very recent case, and the investigation is in its earliest stages. In any criminal case the initial charges are based on the facts available at the time and included in the probable cause statement."

The peace her sister found before her death is what Rubio says brings her and her family comfort.

"We are so happy we got see that last three years and that progress know that she was much happier now that she's no longer with us we have those memories and not the bad ones to hold onto," She added.

Rubio has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for Guzman-Castro's arrangements.