A disabled NYC sanitation worker nearing retirement was brutally decapitated by his girlfriend’s mentally ill teenage son.
Story Highlights
- Anthony Casalaspro, 45, disabled sanitation worker found decapitated in Staten Island home by girlfriend’s 19-year-old son
- Damien Hurstel charged with murder after history of mental health issues and previous domestic incidents
- Community blames inadequate city mental health services for preventable tragedy
- Victim described as generous, hardworking American who overcame disability to serve his community
Hardworking American Falls Victim to System Failure
Anthony Casalaspro embodied the American work ethic that built this nation. The 45-year-old NYC Department of Sanitation worker continued serving his community despite vision loss that put him on disability. Friends described him as “easy-going” and someone who would “take his shirt off his back and give it to you if you needed it.” This dedicated public servant was looking forward to retirement after years of faithful service, only to become a victim of a system that failed to protect him.
Watch; Girl, 16, discovers man decapitated in Staten Island home: sources
Mental Health Crisis Ignored Despite Warning Signs
Damien Hurstel, the 19-year-old suspect, had a documented history of mental health problems and previous domestic incidents. Police records show the family had multiple reports of domestic disturbances, yet the city’s mental health system failed to intervene effectively. Despite being described as usually “sweet as pie,” Hurstel’s untreated condition created a ticking time bomb in the household where Casalaspro had lived peacefully for nearly six years.
The gruesome discovery occurred Monday afternoon when Hurstel allegedly told his younger sister he had “done something bad.” Following blood trails through their West Brighton home, she found Casalaspro’s decapitated body in the bathroom tub with multiple stab wounds and a knife still in his neck. The NYPD responded to the 911 call around 4:30 p.m., but it was too late for this hardworking American.
Community Demands Accountability for Preventable Tragedy
Medical worker Donna Ortiz, a family friend, directly blamed the city’s negligence: “He’d be alive right now if the city dealt with mental health.” This statement captures the frustration of Americans watching their tax dollars wasted on frivolous programs while essential services like mental health intervention remain inadequately funded. The couple had “often clashed over the children,” indicating ongoing household tensions that proper intervention could have addressed.
Neighbors expressed shock at the violence, with resident Mariano Castro noting he had never witnessed fighting between family members. This unpredictability underscores how untreated mental health crises can explode without warning, endangering innocent Americans who deserve protection from their government. The West Brighton community has been devastated by losing a respected neighbor while watching a young man’s life destroyed by systemic neglect.
Sources:
NYC sanitation worker found decapitated inside girlfriend’s home, woman’s 19-year-old son in custody
Staten Island teen charged with murder after allegedly beheading mother’s boyfriend: report
