Man faces 12 years in death of Bridgeport resident

BRIDGEPORT — A Hamden man is facing 12 years in prison after he pleaded no contest Tuesday to beating and choking a local man to death in 2013 and burying the body under a garage.

Ten years after 24-yearold Aryndel Castro disappeared from his city home, his family finally got the chance to see his killer brought to justice but it was clear as they sat in the back of the courtroom crying that they are not happy with the disposition.

“I know the family is displeased with the disposition,” State’s Attorney Joseph Corradino told Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton. But he continued, “It reflects the strength of the evidence and the cooperation of Mr. Gibson.”

Under the plea deal, the 46-year-old Shawn Gibson pleaded no contest to reduced charges of firstdegree manslaughter and hindering prosecution.

He faces 12 years in prison when he is sentenced May 15.

Under a no contest plea, Gibson told the judge he is no longer contesting the state’s case. The judge then found him guilty of the charges.

“Are you making this plea freely and voluntarily,” the judge asked Gibson.

“Yes,” Gibson responded, letting out a loud sigh.

Gibson, who is free on bond, and his lawyer, Frederick Paoletti, declined comment as they left the Bridgeport Judicial District Courthouse.

Castro’s family also declined comment.

Castro’s family reported the victim missing in September 2013.

In 2021, police arrested Terrance Boyd, 55, in Columbia, S.C., after they said he admitted to helping kill Castro.

“I’ll put it in a nutshell for you,” Boyd told police, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. “This guy (Castro) stole some tools from Shawn (Gibson). He didn’t like it. He told me to go get the guy. Brought him to the house, beat him to death and then buried him.”

According to the affidavit, Boyd told detectives that he and Gibson had brought Castro to a rooming house on Noble Avenue that Gibson owned and Gibson began beating Castro with his fists. Boyd told detectives the beating became so bad that he had vomited. Boyd said he had left to get some beers but as he left he could still hear Gibson beating Castro, the affidavit states.

The affidavit continues that both men later put Castro’s remains in a large plastic bag. They initially took it to a house Gibson owned on Moffitt Street and then tried to bury it in Beardsley Park but couldn’t dig a deep enough hole, the affidavit states.

Boyd is awaiting trial on murder charges.

Gibson later told Lt. Christopher LaMaine he had buried Castro’s body under a relative’s garage, the affidavit states.

LaMaine spent several hours digging under the Noble Avenue before finding the body.