Schizophrenic ex accused of decapitating mom-of-two outside her home is competent to stand trial

The schizophrenic ex-boyfriend who is accused of decapitating his ex-girlfriend in broad daylight outside of her Northern California home has been found competent to stand trial. 

Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33, will have his trial proceed as planned after a court-appointed doctor ruled the man accused of killing Karen Castro, 27, in September is mentally fit. 

DailyMail.com pictured Landaeta in court Wednesday as he appeared for a preliminary hearing in San Mateo, California. 

Landaeta is accused of using a samurai sword to decapitate the mother of two in San Carlos while her two young daughters, aged seven and one, were inside the home. 

Before her murder, the young mother had been granted a restraining order against her ex - who is also the father of her one-year-old child. 

The schizophrenic ex-boyfriend who decapitated his ex-girlfriend in broad daylight outside of her Northern California home has been found competent to stand trial

Landaeta is accused of brutally decapitating his ex-girlfriend Karen Castro, 27

Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33, will have his trial proceed as planned after a court-appointed doctor ruled the man accused of killing Karen Castro, 27, in September is mentally fit

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe confirmed in February to KPIX proceedings against the accused murderer would resume. 

The decision was made based on a January 26 report from the court appointed doctor assigned to examine Landaeta. 

On Wednesday, the Bay Area man was seen in court, shackled and clad in orange from head to toe. 

Landaeta appeared before San Mateo judge Rachel Holt who will oversee his trial. 

A judge had previously declared that the trial will begin on March 23. 

In a February interview, Solano claimed the attack was in self-defense and that Castro had a knife on her at the time of her murder.  

According to the family of the deceased mother, Landaeta is a diagnosed schizophrenic and had a history of drinking on his medications. 

The aspiring rapper had been warned to stay away from Castro both legally and informally by her and her family member. 

Her family has spoken with Bay Area outlets and said they have been concerned about him harming their daughter for years. 

'Every time I saw her, I would beg her, "Don't talk to him, leave him,"' Marty Castro, the young woman's father, told ABC7. 

'And it seemed like the more I did that, the more she would see him,' he continued. 

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe confirmed in February to KPIX proceedings against the accused murderer would resume

On Wednesday, the man was seen in court, shackled and clad in orange from head to toe

Landaeta appeared before San Mateo judge Rachel Holt who will oversee his trial

Landaeta is accused of using a samurai sword to decapitate the mother of two in San Carlos while her two young daughters, aged seven and one, were inside 

According to Castro's father Marty Castro (right) and grandmother Danielle Gannon (left) Landaeta is a diagnosed schizophrenic and had a history of drinking on his medications 

According to Danielle Gannon, Castro's grandmother, she was an independent woman who was 'determined to raise her daughters on her own.' 

Gannon said Landaeta would often use his schizophrenia 'as an excuse for his behavior.

'He drank excessively and you're not supposed to do that on those kinds of medications,' Gannon explained.

In a September 2022 interview, Marty warned parents: 'If there's somebody out there abusing your daughter, don't take off. Don't let it go. Don't take "no" for an answer.'

'You will feel responsible no matter what anyone says,' the grieving father said. 

After her body was found, Snapchat messages discovered that Castro may have been threatening to expose an alleged relationship with another man. 

In a follow-up, Landaeta sent back a threatening message which her family says ultimately led to the confrontation outside of her home.  

'He got really mad, went to the trunk of his car, pulled out whatever it was and killed her right there behind her car,' Marty said. 

A neighbor told ABC 7 he witnessed the horrific scene from the steps of his home. 

'The head was underneath the car and she was laying in the back of the car- just severed,' said neighbor Chapel Thorborne. 

After her body was found, Snapchat messages discovered that Castro may have been threatening to expose an alleged relationship with another man 

In a 2022 interview, Marty Castro warned parents: 'If there's somebody out there abusing your daughter, don't take off. Don't let it go. Don't take "no" for an answer'

'The head was underneath the car and she was laying in the back of the car- just severed,' said neighbor Chapel Thorborne

In a February interview , Solano claimed the attack was in self-defense and that Castro had a knife on her at the time of her murder

A floral tribute lays at the scene where Karina Castro was behaeded outside her apartment 

Messages of love are written on rocks at the small tribute to the murdered San Mateo woman

Officers responded in minutes and found Castro's body on the ground. 

Landaeta allegedly left the scene initially but returned and was quickly arrested. 

'After he cut her head off, he came walking up, him and his two friends,' Thorborne told ABC. 'And they walked right by me and they arrested him.' 

DailyMail.com went to the scene of the crime and found a large display of florals and gifts laid where Castro was murdered outside of her apartment.