Man convicted of stabbing ex to death in Mass. restaurant during her book club meeting

WORCESTER, Mass. (TCD) -- A jury convicted a 32-year-old New Hampshire man this week of stabbing his 31-year-old ex-girlfriend to death at a Massachusetts restaurant in 2019.

The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office announced June 20 that Carlos Asencio was found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with Amanda Dabrowski’s death and faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

According to a news release from the Worcester Police Department, on July 3, 2019, at approximately 7:50 p.m., officers responded to O’Connor’s Restaurant on West Boylston Street to a report of a stabbing. Upon their arrival, police said several patrons were holding Ascencio down.

Officers found Asencio’s ex-girlfriend, Dabrowski, suffering from apparent stab wounds. She was transported to the hospital via ambulance, where she was pronounced dead.

Police said they "struggled with Mr. Asencio" but eventually "placed him in handcuffs."

Asencio, who had "briefly dated Dabrowski," reportedly entered the restaurant that evening "intent on killing Amanda as she attended a book club meeting."

According to WHDH-TV, Asencio stabbed his ex-girlfriend around 20 times in the neck and body.

A male patron at the restaurant reportedly tried to help and suffered a non-life-threatening stab wound in the process. Other patrons and restaurant staff then stepped in to subdue Asencio before officers arrived, the District Attorney’s Office said.

Previously, Asencio was found "not competent to stand trial," but he was transported to Bridgewater State Hospital for evaluation, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

In addition to the first-degree murder charge, the jury found Asencio guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the male patron’s stab wound. Asencio is scheduled to be sentenced June 29.

In a statement, District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said, "The loss of Amanda was devastating and tragic. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. No one should ever have to go through something as horrible as this."

MORE:

• Man Found Guilty of Murder in Killing of Amanda Dabrowski Inside Worcester Restaurant — Worcester County District Attorney’s Office
• Patrons, Police Subdue Murder Suspect at O’Connor’s Restaurant, 7/4/2019 — Worcester Police Department
• Trial of suspect in deadly 2019 stabbing in Worcester gets underway — WHDH
• Man Indicted for Murder of Ex-Girlfriend in Restaurant, 12/20/2019 — Worcester County District Attorney’s Office