"Statements like that that would have ramped this investigation up were not made to police," said Lt. Paul Sparks, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Police Department. He said Mark Castillo's tardiness would not constitute a criminal act until the children were missing for 48 hours.
Still, Sparks said county police are reviewing how they handled Amy Castillo's calls.
"We are looking at our own response and what could have or should have been done that would have prevented this tragedy," Sparks said.
Police said yesterday in court papers that Castillo had waived his rights against self-incrimination and gave a taped confession to homicide detectives. He told them that the motive stemmed from a divorce and custody battle he was having with his wife, according to the charging document written by Detective Robert Ross of the homicide unit.
The mayor and the police commissioner called a news conference to discuss the killings.
"Cases like this one are difficult," Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said at a news conference. "They have an incredible emotional impact on everyone involved."
Added Mayor Sheila Dixon: "This tragedy makes one wonder and question why someone would do such and act. We will be asking ourselves why, why could someone do this to three innocent young children."
Mark Castillo, who had once lived in a van, recently rented a room from a Spanish-speaking family on Schuylkill Road in Rockville.
Yesterday, the owner, Maria Galvis, said she often saw the children when they visited with their father, whom she called "Mr. Mark."
"I can still see the children, and hear their voices," Galvis, a native of Colombia, said in Spanish. "Whatever Mr. Mark did, I still respect him. It's not up to us to judge him, because only God knows what went on in his heart at that moment."
Galvis described her tenant as "very educated, very proper and, above all, an excellent father." She said that whenever the children visited - usually twice a week - he made sure they ate nutritious food and that the floor on which they frolicked was clean.
"His children were his eyes," Galvis said. "He adored them. It's extremely hard for me to believe what happened."
Mark Castillo rarely spoke about his problems with his wife, Galvis said, although he made clear to her that he wanted to see the children more often and that the custody battle was arduous. Even then, she said, he never spoke negatively about his wife.
