Erika Castillo

The first few years of my life were spent living in a pink house on South Walker street off Alameda. I spoke mostly Spanish, played in the ditch, got gum in my hair, and was a tomboy in fake patent leather mary-janes my grandmother bought downtown. I have great memories from downtown El Paso which I still visit regularly because I love the nostalgia. I don’t have to take the bus there anymore. But I loved munching on burritos and waiting for the bus downtown with my mother and grandmother. In fact, the time I spent at El Paso bus stops and laundromats with my my mother seriously were the best times of my childhood. We walked, talked and read forever waiting for buses and laundry. Those were simple, beautiful times. Now life is beautiful on much different levels.

I’m pretty sure I’ve remained a tomboy in patent leather mary janes. I managed to get my degree in broadcast journalism at the University of Texas at El Paso in four years after graduating from Ysleta High School while working an internship at the El Paso Times and at a gas station. That led to a paid scholarship internship at The Dallas Morning News. I was able to come home to break into tv news where I appropriately started at the bottom and worked my way up. On the way, I have reached various meaningful benchmarks earning a regional Emmy for the Juarez Serial Murders, appearing on the Bill O'Reilly show and America’s Most Wanted as the point-person for FOX on the break-out of “The Texas Seven,”  being nominated for an Emmy for the American Airlines strike in Dallas,  as well as for the problems plaguing the Childrens’ Protective Services agency in East Texas and coverage of immigration issues in Texas. Sometimes good can come out of what we do as journalists, and  I am perhaps the proudest of  the coverage I was able to bring to the problem of Meth Labs in New Mexico. With the help of some very dedicated and brave Law Enforcement officers, we were able to share the true horror of Meth’s indirect affects on children, and consequently able to convince lawmakers to change New Mexico laws empowering the State to better protect children.  

I have an extraordinary family consisting of five amazing, beautiful, considerate children. My two step daughters Deven and Laneah. And three of my own, Maya, Polo and Elias.  I have a wonderful and supportive husband who served his country for more than a decade in the USMC and who is a Purple Heart recipient and truly my hero. I feel blessed in every way, and extremely happy to be home.               

Q & A

What year did you join KFOX?
2011

What was you first TV appearance?
1989. A warehouse fire in downtown El Paso at 11 p.m. Breaking News. The business burned to the ground.

Where were you born?
Mayen, Germany

Where did you grow up?
El Paso, Texas

What was your favorite TV show then?
Dukes of Hazard

What was the first thing you ever wanted to be?
An International Spy. Bond Girl. 007.

How might someone have described you in high school?
Tall

What was your first job in television?
Assistant assignment editor.

What do you like about your job?
There is never a day you're not reminded how precious and short life can be.

What do you not like about your job?
There is never a day you're not reminded how precious and short life can be.

What might people be surprised to know about you?
I didn't speak English until the second grade. German was my first language. Spanish was my second language. I finally mastered English in about the second grade.

What would be a perfect day for you?
A 36 hour day. There is never enough time.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to go into the business?
Stay focused. Stay grounded. Know who you are.  

If you could only keep one 5-minute tape from your career what would be on it?

Some happy times:
My pregnancy on air in El paso with my daughter.
My pregnancy on air in Dallas with my first son.
My pregnancy on air in Albuquerque with my younger son.

Some sad times:  
Reporting on the serial murders in Juarez.
Reporting the meth lab problems in New Mexico.
Reporting the child abuse problems in Dallas/Fort Worth. 

Favorites

Favorite book:
Man's Search For Meaning 
By Viktor Frankl

Favorite FOX show:
24. Which sadly, is no longer running.

Favorite dream car:
1975 Chevy Nova. Which happily, I own.

Favorite food:
Seafood. I love food. 

Favorite hobby:
Kickboxing, especially with my daughter.

Favorite El Paso place:
Downtown Plaza. I have great memories there from my childhood.

Favorite movie:
Gladiator.

Favorite music:
I love all music. Although there is some music I can only love for a couple of minutes at a time.

Favorite travel destination:
I don't know yet. I haven't been everywhere I want to go.