Marshfield Man Enters Plea in Connection With the Death of a Woman Choked to Death and Set on Fire

Friday, January 10th, 2025 -- 1:01 PM

(Karen Madden, Marshfield News-Herald) A 38-year-old Marshfield man charged in connection with the death of a woman who was choked to death then taken to Price County and set on fire pleaded not guilty Thursday in Wood County Circuit Court.

According to Karen Madden with the Marshfield News-Herald, Deyvin Castro-Gutierrez faces a charge of first-degree intentional homicide for the death of Blanca Jesenia Hernandez-Portocarrero, 28, of Marshfield.

One of Castro-Gutierrez's two attorneys, Laura Tritt, entered a not guilty plea for him during an appearance Thursday afternoon. Wood County Circuit Judge Todd Wolf scheduled the next appearance in the case for May 27.

Castro-Gutierrez remains in jail pending a $10 million cash bail. According to the criminal complaint, on the evening of Nov. 3, a caller reported a fire in the ditch at the intersection of Wisconsin 13 and Withy Road in the Price County town of Hackett.

Officers who responded to the call found human remains on fire. On Nov 7, four days after the body was found, Castro-Gutierrez reported his roommate, Hernandez-Portocarrero, was missing.

Authorities were able to identify the remains found in Price County as Hernandez-Portocarrero through her fingerprints, according to documents. Castro-Gutierrez said Hernandez-Portocarrero had been missing since Nov. 3.

On Nov. 11, police interviewed Castro-Gutierrez. He said he struck Hernandez-Portocarrero in the neck and then held his arm on her neck until she stopped breathing, according to court documents.

He said it happened in the bedroom of the apartment he shared with Hernandez-Portocarrero. Castro-Gutierrez also told police he killed Hernandez-Portocarrero in self-defense, Wood County District Attorney Craig Lambert said at Castro-Gutierrez's initial appearance.

Castro-Gutierrez said he wrapped Hernandez-Portocarrero's body in a blanket and used zip ties to secure it. He then put her in his car, which was in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

Castro-Gutierrez said he drove about an hour, poured gasoline on the body and lit it on fire, according to court records. If convicted of the charge, Castro-Gutierrez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

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