MARCY — A 32-year-old man facing attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault — both felonies — after accusations he tried to kill his vehicle passenger on the side of Route 49 early Sunday morning has been identified as a resident of Guatemala and is not legally in the United States, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office reports Henry Estuardo Castaneda, "has been working under an assumed identity upon entering the U.S., but is only believed to have been in Oneida County for approximately two months."

Sheriff's deputies said Castaneda was driving on Route 49 with a male passenger around 3 a.m. Sunday, May 21 when the passenger began verbally harassing him about a personal matter and being out of work.

It was then that deputies said Castaneda pulled off the eastbound side of the highway to go to the bathroom, and both men got out of the vehicle.

"As they stood off the edge of the road, Castaneda attacked the victim, choking him until he lost consciousness. He then returned to the vehicle and got an empty beer bottle and began to strike the victim several times in the head until he believed he was dead. Castaneda left the victim laying in the grass and left the scene," notes a statement from the sheriff’s office.

The victim eventually regained consciousness and was later spotted walking along the highway between the Route 291 and River Road exits, according to a statement.

Passing motorists called 911, and the victim was located and taken to the St. Elizabeth campus of the Mohawk Valley Health System, where he received treatment for several head wounds and has since been released.

Castaneda was taken into custody and arraigned on the charges on Monday, May 22, and is being held at the Oneida County Correctional Facility after bail was set at $100,000 cash/$200,000 bond.

Continued investigation

The sheriff’s office is also working with members of the U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement, who are investigating Castaneda’s assumed identity documents and immigration status.

The sheriff’s office reports that Castaneda was driving an orange colored 2005 Honda Element with Texas license plates at the time of the incident. 

The incident would have occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday, May 21, on the south shoulder of the eastbound lanes of state Route 49, just east of River Road., the sheriff's office notes.

The sheriff’s office is asking that anyone who may have seen the vehicle pulled over or believes they have any information to contact 315-765-2737.