‘Monster’ who brutally murdered ex-girlfriend inside Worcester restaurant gets life in prison

WORCESTER, Mass. — A man who brutally murdered his ex-girlfriend, Amanda Dabrowski, in a crowded Worcester restaurant in 2019 was sentenced to life in prison Thursday.

Carlos Asencio, 32, initially refused to enter the courtroom, but after being dragged in by a group of bailiffs, he informed the judge that he had decided to waive his right to be present during sentencing.

Carlos Asencio waives right to appear for sentencing after being escorted into court

The proceeding ultimately continued with emotional victim impact statements from Dabrowski’s sister, Victoria, and father, Ed.

“Each day is a bit closer until we will all be together again,” Ed Dabrowski said. “Our lives changed forever on that dreadful July evening but Amanda you can now rest in peace knowing that monster can not hurt anyone ever again. We will not forget you.”

Victoria Dabrowski added, “I would have addressed this to him [Asencio] if he was sitting in front of me...You don’t deserve to have anything good at all. You lost your right to become a member of society by committing this act...I hope you feel alone while you spend the rest of your life in prison...You’re a pathetic human being.”

Judge Janet Kenton-Walker then handed down the mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Asencio was convicted last week of murder in the fatal stabbing of Dabrowski, 31, who was also his former work colleague.

Before jurors deliberated, prosecutors outlined their case against Asencio, calling the murder of Dabrowski “pre-meditated.”

“First-degree murder accomplished by deliberate pre-mediated and with extreme atrocity and cruelty,” said Edward Karcasinas, Assistant District Attorney Worcester.

Karcasinas added, “Fueled by jealously and rage, Mr. Asencio murdered Amanda Dabrowski.”

During the trial, the prosecution said that Asencio tried to kill Amanda in her Ayer home, fled the country, and came back.

Asencio then tracked Dabrowski by taping a cell phone to her car and followed her to O’Connor’s Restaurant in Worcester where he entered with two large knives on July 3, 2019.

Surveillance video showed Asencio wandering around the restaurant until he found Amanda and stabbed her 58 times.

Several patrons jumped in to try to save Amanda and secure Asencio who asked to die.

Asencio’s defense argued that he was not criminally responsible for the heinous killing because of a psychotic disorder.

Asencio was also found guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the injury of a patron who intervened.

He will serve his life sentence at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster.

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