GUILTY IL - Lauren Castellari, 27, Hoyleton, 19 April 2011

Family of Missing Centralia Woman Offers $5,000 Reward

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A 52-year-old Hoyleton man has entered an Alford plea in Washington County Court at Nashville to first degree murder charges in connection with the April 2011 death of 27-year-old Lauren Castellari of Centralia. Circuit Judge Dennis Hatch accepted the plea that includes a 20 year prison term for Clay Maxwell. He will receive credit for time served awaiting trial, but will have to complete 100-percent of the rest of the sentence...

The murder charge that Maxwell entered the guilty plea said without lawful justification and with the intent to kill Castellari, he struck her head with an unknown object causing her death. State’s Attorney Julie Kozuszek indicated Castellari suffered significant blunt trauma and multiple fractures to her skull...

Maxwell is believed to have concealed the death by wrapping a chain around Castellari’s waist, locking it with a padlock and placing her body in a lake south of Nashville in Washington County. Castellari’s body was discovered and pulled from the lake on May fourth of last year.

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