A Beaumont woman is voicing her memories of her sister, Shanequa Castaneda, after a suspect was charged in connection with her death. Castaneda was discovered dead in her apartment at El Camino Homes in Beaumont on March 15, 2021. More than four years later, the case has seen significant developments following a tip to Crime Stoppers that led to the arrest of 43-year-old Michael Denson. Investigators report that Denson admitted to killing Castaneda.
Remembering Shanequa Castaneda
Patiaunce McCall, Castaneda’s younger sister, expressed her determination to preserve her sister’s memory and legacy. “We’re like two peas in a pod. You saw her, you saw me,” McCall stated in an interview with 12News. She described the profound impact of living without her sister, saying, “When I moved here without her, it was hard for both of us.”
Castaneda was born prematurely and faced significant health challenges from the start of her life. Despite these odds, McCall described her sister as an “angel” who was “so giving and caring.” She reflected on their time together, noting, “Every day with her was a gift because we shouldn’t even have the years we had with her.”
Advocacy and Tragedy
In addition to being a cherished sister, Castaneda was a passionate advocate for women experiencing domestic violence. She helped numerous friends and family members, including McCall herself, escape abusive situations. “It’s crazy how many women that she got out of domestic violence situations,” McCall recalled. “I could literally name like seven different women alone, including myself.”
McCall revealed that Castaneda had been in a relationship with Denson prior to her death. “She was helping him, and it turned into a relationship,” she explained. After Castaneda’s tragic death, the family learned more about the extent of the abuse she endured. “We discovered how deep it went… and how far the abuse went,” McCall said.
As the family continues to process their grief, they hope that sharing Castaneda’s story will encourage others to seek help. “For those women out there and others that may be experiencing some type of domestic violence, please seek help,” McCall urged. “She’d want that. I feel like that’s what her legacy has become.”
Denson now faces a murder charge in connection with Castaneda’s death. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, support is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
