A Staten Island, New York, neighborhood is in shock after a gruesome murder. Damien Hurstel has been accused of stabbing his mom’s boyfriend to death in their home. Their normally quiet street turned into a chaotic crime scene after the young man’s teenage sister allegedly found the body. Although details are still emerging about the killing, the discovery of the body was nothing less than scarring. Police are still investigating, but it seems that no one was aware of what was happening behind closed doors.
New York Police Department officers were called to a home after receiving reports of a stabbing around 4:30 p.m. on October 6, 2025, WABC reported. When they arrived, they found the victim, who was identified as 45-year-old Anthony Casalaspro, in the bathtub with “multiple stab wounds in his head and neck.” He was declared dead at the scene.
Casalaspro’s body was reportedly found by his 16-year-old stepdaughter, according to multiple reports. A trail of blood in the house led her to make the shocking discovery in the bathroom. According to PIX11, sources said the man was decapitated with a hacksaw.
The suspect, 19-year-old Hurstel, was still covered in blood when he was taken into police custody. Some reports say that Hurstel was Casalaspro’s stepson, while others note that the older man was the longtime boyfriend of the teen’s mother.
Neighbors spoke with SILive.com about the crime scene and one reportedly heard a woman scream, “He’s dead!” The neighbor recalled hearing someone tell emergency personnel “the head is in the tub.”
Other neighbors told the outlet that Hurstel was “calm and respectful” when being taken into police custody. After his arrest, he was taken away still bloody and strapped to a gurney. PIX11 reported that he was taken to the hospital for a medical episode.
There are conflicting reports about the young man dealing with mental health issues. According to police, he has no prior arrests but “may have a history of mental illness.or documented history of emotional disturbance,” WABC reported.
The motive for the stabbing is still unclear, but the family had a history of domestic violence related 911 calls, according to the New York Post. Apparently there had been five calls since 2021.
In 2023, the year of the most recent report, sources said Casalaspro attacked Hurstel before slapping the boy’s mom, per the Post. The alleged attack came after police told an incredibly intoxicated Casalaspro to leave the home earlier that day.
During the first domestic violence call in 2021, Hurstel’s mother told police her boyfriend was drunkenly breaking things in their home. She also claimed he had a gun, but it was never found.
The day after the killing, neighbors told the Post about a time when the woman suffered from a broken leg. “She was screaming,” the neighbor recalled. “I never heard anyone scream like that. She was on the ground, her leg was bent the wrong way. I said, ‘Do you want me to call 911?’”
Casalaspro allegedly said “No, you’re fine, you’re fine.”
As of October 7, Hurstel has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He was expected to be arraigned on October 8.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women’s shelter (domesticshelters.org).
