South Lake Tahoe trio arrested after alleged kidnapping, domestic violence and drug case

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Three people have been arrested in connection with a domestic violence case out of South Lake Tahoe and a kidnapping case out of Stateline, Nevada that began on Saturday, March 9 in the city limits.

On that date, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) got a report of a domestic violence incident that happened at a motel on the California side of the state line. When officers arrived, they found the 24-year-old victim cleaning
up her hotel room. She told police her boyfriend, 23-year-old Moises Gomez Casillas, beat and strangled her multiple times and destroyed her cell phone. She said all of this happened because she wanted him to return money she had given him and to leave the relationship.

Casillas had fled the scene and officers couldn’t find him but an emergency protective order was granted by the El Dorado County Superior Court to protect the victim.

On Monday, March 11, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) called SLTPD saying the victim from their domestic violence case had been kidnapped from Harveys Casino that morning by Casillas and was headed into California.

The FBI, DCSO and SLTPD were involved in the kidnapping and domestic violence investigation that led them to an apartment on Manzanita Avenue in South Lake Tahoe late Monday afternoon. Casillas was reported to sometimes stay on the couch of the apartment.

Casillas has a long history with SLTPD including arrests for domestic violence, public intoxication and gang affiliation. Due to his history and that this could be a hostage rescue case, SLTPD SWAT and Crisis Negotiation teams were activated. The City's MRAP vehicle led the response onto Manzanita Avenue. DCSO deputies and FBI were all staged in the area around Stateline Avenue and Harveys.

As officers approached the apartment, the victim escaped and was rescued by nearby detectives. The SWAT team entered, served the search and arrest warrant, and arrested Casillas without incident.

Inside the 200 square-foot studio apartment, detectives also found, 44-year-old Adolfina Leonila Martinez and her daughter, 24 year old Dulce Ivionne Antonio. There were also three younger children in the home. Detectives also found marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia easily accessible to the children.

Due to the condition of the apartment and the accessibility to drugs and drug paraphernalia, detectives arrested Martinez and Antonio for child endangerment, possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia. All three children were taken into protective custody by El Dorado County Child Protective Services.

Casillas was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe while Antonio is in the country on a Visa. Her mother Adolfina appears to be undocumented according to City officials.

The women are in the El Dorado County Jail with bail set at $54,000 each.

Casillas is currently in the El Dorado County Jail on charges of Corporal Injury to Spouse/Cohabitant/Date and a fugitive arrest warrant from Douglas County. Bail is set at $200,000 but he cannot post bond at this time due to the warrant. When arraigned in Douglas County he will face the kidnapping charges and $50,000 bail there.