25 Investigates: Family of woman murdered in Worcester settles suit against her former employer

WORCESTER, Mass. — A settlement has been reached between the family of Amanda Dabrowski, the Webster woman murdered inside O’Connor’s Restaurant in July 2019, and her former employer pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), 25 Investigates has learned.

Amanda was stabbed multiple times inside the popular Worcester restaurant allegedly by Carlos Asencio, a colleague she briefly dated while working at BMS.

Investigative reporter and anchor Kerry Kavanaugh spoke to the Dabrowski family by phone about the settlement. Due to a non-disclosure agreement, her parents weren’t able to disclose the amount of the settlement or any details but said the amount will largely be donated to organizations that advocate for and help victims of domestic violence.

Amanda was stabbed to death inside a crowded O’Connor’s restaurant on the evening of July 3, 2019. Police say Asencio was the attacker.

Just months earlier, he was accused of attempting to kill her during an Easter Sunday home invasion. The attack occurred soon after she broke off the relationship, according to police documents.

Within 24 hours of that April attack, BMS and staffing firm Columbia Consulting terminated Amanda, who worked as a contract employee

The Dabrowski’s have been fighting for better protections for domestic violence victims in the workplace ever since her murder.

They sued BMS for wrongful termination, saying the company punished Amanda for being a victim of domestic violence.

The lawsuit was ultimately settled through mediation.

25 Investigates reached out to both BMS and Columbia Consulting for comment. They did not respond in time for our report.

Asencio is due back in court later this month in connection with Amanda’s murder. The Dabrowski’s say they are eager for his trial, which has been delayed due to the pandemic, to begin and get justice for their daughter. A trial date has not yet been set.

25 Investigates has been committed to following this story since the beginning. Our in-depth special, The Murder of Amanda Dabrowski was honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow award for News Documentary.

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