A community in Michigan, USA, is still shaken after a former Marine Corps recruiter stormed into a home in the middle of the night and stabbed an 11-year-old girl who was sleeping during a friend’s sleepover.
According to LawandCrime, the horrifying incident occurred around 3 a.m. when 25-year-old Ricardo Perez Castillo forced his way into a house inside a gated neighbourhood. Investigators say he went straight to the kitchen, took a knife, and then walked upstairs where the children were sleeping.
He attacked the young girl without warning, stabbing her several times as she lay asleep. She suffered deep wounds on her shoulder and arm but survived after being rushed to hospital. Police later confirmed the attack was completely random, as Castillo had no connection to the victims or the home.
The case shocked many residents because the attacker was a former Marine Corps recruiter — someone normally trusted to uphold discipline and safety. The family living in the home later relocated due to the trauma of the incident.
Castillo eventually pleaded no contest to multiple charges, including attempted murder and first-degree home invasion. A judge described the crime as “senseless” and “deeply disturbing” before sentencing him to 40 years in prison.
During sentencing, the young survivor courageously told the court how she woke up in pain and fear, seeing blood everywhere and believing she would not make it out alive. Her emotional statement moved many in the courtroom.