Babysitter’s boyfriend led police to Jada Justice’s body, gave details of her death, part 1

June 28, 2:49 AMCrime ExaminerCindy Adams

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Two photos of slain 2-year-old Jada Justice.

Engelica Castillo, 18, and her boyfriend, Tim Tkachik, 23, were arrested and charged with the death of 2-year-old Jada Justice. On Friday, court documents revealed what Tkachick alleged happened to the little girl and what eventually led to her death.

Castillo is Jada’s cousin and was babysitting the little girl while her mother, Melissa Swiontek, was out of town. 

According to T. Edward Page, Castillo’s attorney, “A plea of not guilty will be entered on Engelica’s behalf at the first opportunity… and we believe that once all of the evidence is presented to a fair and impartial jury at trial, she will be cleared of responsibility for Jada’s death.”

Castillo told police that on June 16, she and Tkachik spent the day paying bills and then returned home to make dinner. She said after dinner the couple smoked marijuana, while Jada played on the floor. 

Castillo said she realized they needed cigarettes, milk, and bottled water. She drove with Jada to the local gas station convenience store and left Jada in the backseat of her unlocked car when she ran inside at about 9:40 p.m. Castillo claimed when she returned to the car, Jada was gone.

The next day, during an interview with police, Castillo became angry and attempted to strike an officer. She told police, “God is taking care of her [Jada]. God is watching over her.”

Police believe Jada actually died June 13.

Eventually, Tkachik told police a story that differed from Castillo's and, on Thursday, led them to Jada’s body.

According to Tkachik, he drove Castillo to pick Jada up on June 8. In an affidavit, police wrote, “Everything was normal for several days.”

On June 12, the couple snorted several lines of heroin. This was the last day Swiontek spoke to her toddler daughter, and said Jada seemed happy.

Tkachik claimed the next morning he found Castillo pulling Jada’s hair and spanking her. The little girl was not crying so Castillo hit her even harder.

According to police, Castillo struck Jada and the 2-year-old fell and hit her head against a table. Castillo then made the toddler stand still in a corner, but when Jada began to act up, she started hitting the girl in the head with closed fists.

Continue to part 2 of story