A mother from Beaumont states that she is beginning to witness progress toward justice four years after her daughter was murdered, following aCrime Stoppers tipwhich resulted in the police arresting the woman’s ex-boyfriend on a murder charge.
Peggy Smith, the mother of Shanequa Castaneda, who was tragically killed in 2021, stated that her daughter’s life “ended too early” and expressed gratitude to Beaumont investigators for their dedication to the case. “If you met her, you fell in love with her,” Smith remarked.
The Beaumont police state that Castaneda was murdered by her former boyfriend, Michael Denson. Smith mentioned that she has carried the burden of the unresolved case for many years. “To know in your heart that someone took the life of your child and he isn’t in jail for it and is free to walk around, is a terrible feeling,” she stated.
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As stated by Sergeant Haley Morrow of the Beaumont Police Department, the case took a significant turn when Denson revealed to someone that he had murdered Castaneda—a confession that was then relayed to Crime Stoppers. “This could be the single crucial break that leads to solving the case completely,” Morrow mentioned.
Morrow stated that Denson is now facing a murder charge, although investigators are still conducting their examination. “We’re not at the finish line yet—we still aim to secure a conviction,” she mentioned.
On Tuesday, Smith praised the group of investigators, stating that they “paid attention and recorded every detail” from the start of the case. “Due to the thorough notes he kept, when they chose to reinvestigate the case and conduct their examination, it proved very helpful,” she mentioned.
Smith stated that she desires “a life for a life” and is hoping for justice to be carried out. She also shared the happiness her daughter brought to people, including those who visited her workplace. “She worked at Sam’s, didn’t she? People would wait in line—she would just keep talking—but they would remain in line just to have a conversation with her,” Smith mentioned. “She had a love for children, was very caring, and if you look into her eyes, that’s what life looks like. And it’s heartbreaking that it was taken from her.”
