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Staten Island Stepson Charged in Decapitation of Sanitation Worker as Arraignment Is Delayed

The 19-year-old, identified as Damien Hurstel, remains hospitalized after a medical episode that postponed his arraignment.

Overview

  • Officers responding to a 911 call found Anthony Casalaspro, 45, decapitated in a bathtub with multiple stab wounds and a knife at the scene, police said.
  • The victim’s 19-year-old stepson, Damien Hurstel, was arrested at the home and has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, according to authorities.
  • Hurstel remains in a hospital after an apparent seizure during transport to court, leaving his arraignment on hold until doctors clear him.
  • Police are treating the case as a domestic homicide, and local reports describe prior domestic-incident 911 calls linked to the household.
  • Multiple outlets report a history of mental-health treatment and inconsistent medication use for Hurstel, while sensational claims about specific tools and disposal plans have not been confirmed by prosecutors.