California Man's Wife Freed After Year in Venezuelan Prison

After more than a year apart, Renzo Humanchumo Castillo heard the words he'd been praying for: "Hey baby, I'm out."

His wife, Rosa Carolina Chirino Zambrano, was released from a Venezuelan prison this week along with her friend and their taxi driver. All three had been charged with espionage simply because of their connection to Castillo, a Peruvian-American who works in private security in Southern California.

The nightmare began in December 2024 when the couple crossed from Colombia into Venezuela so Castillo could meet his in-laws for the first time. Venezuelan authorities stopped them at the border and accused Castillo of plotting to assassinate Nicolas Maduro, who was then the country's president.

Because Castillo had photos of himself in tactical gear on his phone (equipment he uses for his private security job), authorities labeled him a CIA hitman. He spent months in El Rodeo, one of Venezuela's most notorious prisons, where he endured torture and beatings that sometimes lasted eight hours.

Castillo was freed in a prisoner swap last July. His Venezuelan wife, however, remained behind bars because of her citizenship status.

The couple first met at a bar in Peru, where Zambrano was living at the time. Their whirlwind romance led to marriage and plans for a life together in California, but those dreams were put on hold the moment they crossed that border.

The Bright Side

Zambrano's release comes at a pivotal moment. Maduro was captured by U.S. forces earlier this month in a military operation that changed everything for families like the Castillos.

"It was that moment when, inside of me, I felt I was going to be able to see my wife again," Castillo said about hearing news of Maduro's capture. "The chances of me seeing my wife again just went from nothing to a hundred."

While Zambrano remains under government surveillance in Venezuela, Castillo is already working with the State Department to bring her home to California. After enduring false accusations, torture, and a year of separation, this family's reunion is finally within reach.

Their first conversation since her release was emotional but filled with hope, proving that even after the darkest chapters, love finds a way forward.