On a seemingly ordinary Monday afternoon, an unimaginable horror unfolded in a Staten Island home, leading to a tragic loss of life and a family forever changed.

The chilling events began with a frantic call from 16-year-old Alicia Zas to her mother, Alicia.

Her voice trembled with fear as she uttered the words that would shatter their lives: “Mom, Damian killed Anthony. He doesn’t have a head.” This shocking revelation marked the beginning of a nightmare that would haunt them al

Alicia Zas’s heart raced as she listened to her daughter’s panicked voice.

The gravity of the situation became painfully clear when Alicia learned that her 19-year-old son, Damen Hurstl, had brutally murdered their mother’s boyfriend, 45-year-old Anthony Kasalaspro, and decapitated him inside their home.

The horror intensified when Alicia’s daughter revealed that Damen had shown her the gruesome scene in the bathroom, where he had left Anthony’s body.

“Look, there it was, the body,” Damen reportedly told his sister, a statement that would leave any sibling in a state of shock.

In a moment that no child should ever have to endure, Damen then turned to her and asked, “Do you want mom to live?” This chilling question encapsulated the madness of the situation.

Alicia’s daughter begged her brother not to hurt their mother, pleading for her life. After a tense moment, Damen acquiesced, allowing her to escape and call for help.

Alicia Zas rushed home from work, her mind racing as she processed the horrifying news. Upon entering the house, she found Damen in the kitchen, acting strangely.

His demeanor had drastically changed; his eyes, usually light and expressive, appeared dark and empty.

When she asked about Anthony, he simply replied that he was in the bathroom and warned her, “You don’t want to go in there.”

Despite her instincts telling her otherwise, Alicia entered the bathroom and was confronted with a scene that would be forever etched in her memory.

The sight was so horrific that it compelled her to call 911, her voice trembling as she informed the dispatcher that Anthony was dead and “has no head.”

When the police arrived, they discovered Anthony’s body in the shower, wearing only red briefs, with his head placed nearby.

The gruesome details were staggering: a bloody saw and a spoon were found at the scene, the latter allegedly used by Damen to remove part of Anthony’s brain.

It was a level of violence that few could comprehend.

As investigators pieced together the events leading up to the murder, it became clear that this was not a spontaneous act of violence but rather the culmination of years of tension within the household.

Damen and Anthony had a tumultuous relationship marked by conflict and hostility. There had been multiple police calls to the home over the past few years, indicating a history of domestic strife.

Moreover, Damen struggled with severe mental health issues, including hallucinations and PTSD.

His mother revealed that he had faced these challenges since childhood, but the healthcare system failed to provide the necessary support.

Earlier in the year, his medication had been changed without her knowledge, leaving her unable to monitor his treatment due to privacy laws that came into effect when he turned 18. This lack of oversight proved catastrophic.

Following the brutal murder, Damen was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and possession of a weapon.

He reportedly confessed to the killing, detailing the horrific events to the police in a manner that left detectives stunned.

His chilling account of the murder, combined with the evidence collected at the scene, painted a grim picture of a young man lost to his demons.

As Damen awaits trial in a New York jail, the case has raised significant questions about mental health care and the responsibilities of the system to protect individuals like him from themselves and others.

Alicia Zas, now grappling with the loss of her partner and the horror of her son’s actions, faces an uncertain future.

The Staten Island decapitation case serves as a haunting reminder of the complexities surrounding mental health, family dynamics, and the devastating consequences of untreated psychiatric issues.

As the story unfolds in the courtroom, it is crucial to reflect not only on the tragic loss of Anthony Kasalaspro but also on the systemic failures that allowed this tragedy to occur.

The Zas family’s nightmare is a stark illustration of the urgent need for better mental health resources and support systems to prevent such horrors from happening in the future.

In the coming months, as the trial progresses, the community will undoubtedly grapple with the implications of this case, seeking answers and justice for a life lost to madness.

The echoes of that fateful Monday afternoon will linger, reminding us all of the fragility of life and the importance of compassion and understanding in the face of unimaginable pain.

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