New York – In a gruesome incident in New York, a 19‑year‑old man, identified as D. Hurstel, has been arrested for murdering his 45-year-old stepfather, identified as A. Casalaspro, in a brutal and macabre manner. The suspect, Hurstel, is accused of beating his stepfather, Casalaspro, to death with a meat tenderizer, then cutting his head off using a hacksaw. Authorities believe mental illness, namely schizophrenia, may have played a role in the violent act.
Hurstel is charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the killing of Casalaspro. According to recent reports, he has entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment. In the hearing, his defense requested psychiatric evaluation and medical care, citing his mental health history. The court placed Hurstel on suicide watch and scheduled further proceedings as investigators dig deeper into the circumstances.
The violent killing occurred at their home. Police were dispatched just before 4:30 p.m. after reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers found Casalaspro’s body in the bathtub, with multiple stab wounds to his head and neck. The victim had apparently been decapitated; reports say his head was severed using a hacksaw. The murder weapon was reportedly still lodged in the victim’s body. Hurstel’s younger sister, 16, returned home from school around 4 p.m. to find blood in multiple rooms. Disturbed, she discovered the body in the bathtub. The suspect allegedly told her, “I did something bad, go to your room.”
According to law enforcement sources and media reports, the day of the killing began with a confrontation: Hurstel argued with his mother in the morning. Casalaspro, who was dating the mother, allegedly urged Hurstel to take a walk to cool off. Hurstel later returned home, reportedly upset that his mother was not there, and attacked Casalaspro using a meat tenderizer. Multiple blunt force injuries are alleged. After that, he began a grisly process of dismemberment. His first attempt to sever the head with a kitchen knife failed, and he reportedly retrieved a hacksaw from a shed to finish the job. At one point, he is said to have tried to remove Casalaspro’s brain with a hammer. That effort was interrupted when his sister came home, leading to the grim discovery.
During his police interview, Hurstel allegedly admitted he wanted to know what it felt like to kill someone. Reports also note that he had a documented history of schizophrenia and self‑harm since 2022. While Hurstel has no prior arrests, his mental health history and recent behavior drew attention in court. Hurstel’s arraignment was delayed because he reportedly suffered a seizure and developed a blood infection, necessitating hospitalization. Despite his medical condition, he appeared virtually in court, entered the not guilty plea, and is being held without bail. His defense has called for immediate psychiatric care and further evaluation of his history.
The case has already drawn intense public scrutiny, in part because the property had a documented history of domestic violence calls and mental health crises. Neighbors say calls to this home were common in recent years. Meanwhile, forensic teams and crime scene investigators continue to sift through evidence from the grisly scene. As this shocking case unfolds, one family is torn apart by violence that seems unfathomable. A young man battling mental illness now finds himself at the center of a murder case so brutal it defies easy explanation. The courts will decide whether his breakdown excuses the horror, or whether justice demands he face the weight of his actions. In the meantime, the community struggles to reconcile a life marked by internal anguish with the outward profile of monstrous violence.
