Florida man charged with murder over random stabbing of dog walker
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder after authorities say he randomly stabbed a woman to death in a quiet South Florida neighborhood, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
Kersten Francilus, who lives in a nearby community, is accused of attacking a woman in her 70s who was walking her dog in Stuart’s Southwood neighborhood on Friday, Sheriff John Budensiek said.
Neighbors had called deputies shortly before the attack to report a suspicious man going door to door and asking unusual questions.
“We’re getting multiple calls from this community. From the Southwood community, which is a quiet, upscale community here in Martin County. Multiple calls of a suspicious male going door to door and interacting with different people,” Budensiek said at a news conference.
Kersten Francilus, 25, has been charged with murder after a woman was brutally, unprovokedly stabbed to death, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
GOT A TIP?
“He asked a few different people a few times where the new bank was. There’s no bank around here,” he said.
Witnesses described the man as calm and non-confrontational during those encounters, the sheriff said.
Shortly after, authorities received more calls reporting the same man attacking a woman in a cul-de-sac.
A deputy who went to investigate suspicious activity found the suspect “actively stabbing” the victim as he lay on the ground, Budensiek said.
“Our suspect was on top of her, actually actively stabbing her,” he said.
A woman in her 70s died after a “violent, despicable murder” in the residential area of Stuart, where investigators said the attack was random. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
A brave good Samaritan tried to intervene but was unable to stop the attack before deputies arrived, authorities said.
Confronted by the deputy, Francilus immediately dropped the knife and surrendered.
The victim suffered stab wounds to his upper torso, where he died and was transported to Cleveland Clinic Martin South, authorities said.
“This was a violent and despicable murder,” Budensiek said.
A man knocking on doors and asking about a non-existent bank minutes later fatally stabbed a woman for no reason, authorities said. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
Police said there is no known connection between Francilus and the victim and no clear motive has been determined.
“At this point this appears to be an extremely violent, random act of violence,” Budensiek said.
A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder after deputies say he randomly stabbed a woman to death while she was walking her dog in a quiet neighborhood in Martin County. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
Francilus was taken into custody at the scene and later transported to the Martin County Jail. Authorities said the knife used in the attack was a steak knife believed to have come from his home.
GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL
The sheriff’s office said Francilus had no known criminal history, but deputies had previously responded to a call about him acting strangely at his home.
CLICK HERE FOR OTHER USA NEWS
Deputies arrested a suspect who surrendered at the scene after he was found actively stabbing a woman in Florida’s Southwood dead-end community, authorities said. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
Budensiek said residents were wise to report the man’s strange behavior.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“The community did what they had to do. They saw something that wasn’t right. They called the Martin County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
Authorities did not release the victim’s name.
