A quiet Staten Island neighborhood was shattered by tragedy after 45-year-old Anthony Casalaspro was found brutally stabbed to death inside his West Brighton home. According to police, Casalaspro’s stepdaughter made the horrifying discovery, walking into a scene of chaos—blood splattered throughout the house and her stepfather lifeless in the bathtub.
She immediately called 911, but by the time officers and paramedics arrived, it was too late.Investigators say Casalaspro suffered multiple stab wounds to the head and neck. His stepson, 19-year-old Damien Hurstel, was taken into custody at the scene without incident and later charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
The knife believed to have been used in the attack was recovered nearby. Authorities are still trying to determine what sparked the violence, and detectives are reviewing Hurstel’s mental health history as part of the investigation.Neighbors who had known the family for years described them as quiet and friendly, saying they were stunned by the news. “It’s just heartbreaking.
You never think something like this could happen here,” one resident said. Others expressed sympathy for Casalaspro’s loved ones, particularly the young woman who discovered the aftermath.The NYPD’s Homicide Division continues to lead the investigation, piecing together events leading up to the fatal encounter and reviewing any prior domestic disturbances or warning signs.
Family and friends of Anthony Casalaspro are now left to grieve a life taken far too soon.Casalaspro is being remembered as a kind, hardworking man who cared deeply for his family and neighbors. As the community of West Brighton mourns, candles and flowers have begun to appear outside his home—a quiet tribute to a man whose life ended in unimaginable violence. Our deepest condolences go out to all who are mourning his loss.
