Overview
- A woman in her mid-70s was stabbed while walking her dog in Stuart’s Southwood neighborhood Thursday afternoon, and she died shortly after being taken to a hospital.
- The suspect, 25-year-old Kersten Francilus, surrendered at the scene and on Friday was ordered held without bond on a first-degree premeditated murder charge after prosecutors said he stabbed her about 16 times.
- Investigators report no known link between Francilus and the victim, and they are examining his statement that he said he killed her and described her only as Jewish; authorities have not released her name.
- Neighbors had called 911 about a man knocking on doors and asking where a “new bank” was before the attack, and deputies say the weapon was a steak knife believed to have come from the suspect’s home.
- Francilus lives nearby with family and has no criminal history on record, with one prior call about him acting strange, as residents now voice safety concerns following other recent random attacks on the Treasure Coast.