A 25-year-old Florida man is facing a first-degree murder charge after he allegedly stabbed a woman in her mid-70s while she was walking her dog. The attack happened in what authorities believe was a random act of violence.
What Happened
According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the man, Kersten Francilus, allegedly stabbed the woman 16 times on Thursday afternoon. He reportedly admitted to the crime when he spoke to law enforcement. When asked to describe the victim, he could only say that she was Jewish.
Neighbors initially called 911 after seeing Francilus asking about a “new bank” in the area. When deputies arrived at the scene, they saw Francilus still on top of the woman, stabbing her. A deputy drew his gun, ordered Francilus to stop, and he surrendered without further incident.
Victim and Investigation
The woman, who has not been identified, was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after. Authorities confirmed that there was no known connection between the victim and the suspect. Francilus, who lives with his mother and wife in a nearby neighborhood, is currently being held in Martin County Jail without bond.
Sheriff John Budensiek said the crime was a violent and random act. “This is a nice neighborhood, and this is a horrible crime,” he said. The investigation is ongoing, and no suspects have been identified at this time.
Francilus’ History
Investigators discovered that Francilus had a history of acting strangely. In fact, deputies had responded to calls about his behavior before, but there had been no previous reports of violent incidents.
Neighbors described him as calm when he asked about the bank, and there was no indication that he was carrying a weapon. They found it unusual, which led them to call authorities.
At this time, Francilus is in custody, and authorities have not revealed any further details about the case.
