WINFIELD, W.Va. — A Putnam County man was brought back to West Virginia Friday to face a charge of first degree murder.
Philip Casto, 33, of Hurricane, was arraigned in Putnam County Magistrate Court for allegedly shooting Jennifer Evans, 27, to death last week.
Evans was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head inside her Teays Valley apartment Sept. 10.
The two had recently ended an affair, according statements made by Casto’s wife in the criminal complaint. His wife said she came home that day to find what was an apparent suicide note left by Casto. He then fled to Massachusetts and never spoke to her again.
Casto was captured Sept. 11, the day after the alleged murder, at a shopping plaza in Braintree, Mass. near Boston. Casto waived extradition earlier this week to face the charge in Putnam County.
The criminal complaint also stated Casto purchased a .40 caliber Glock handgun from the Ultimate Pawn shop in Hurricane the day before the incident.
Evans’ husband, Michael Evans, told police that his wife was being perused by Casto and that she had recently stopped talking to him, but minutes before her death she sent a text message to her husband informing him Casto was at their home.
After Evan’s husband advised her to call police and sent the apartment owner over to the home to check on her, there was no response, the complaint said.
Police have surveillance video of what appears to be Casto’s silver car that arrived at the residence just after 4:30 p.m. and left the scene 16 minutes later.
Evans was found dead on the kitchen floor with .40 caliber shell casings near her body, police said.
Casto remains in jail and is being held without bond.