MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — A woman is dead after she was randomly attacked in the Southwood community in Martin County.
The Martin County Sheriff's Office responded to the 6000 block of SE Black Oak Lane on Thursday, following reports of an "unprovoked attack."
The victim, described as a woman in her 70s, was reportedly walking her dog when the suspect, 25-year-old Kersten Francilus, approached and began stabbing her with a steak knife, according to the sheriff's office.
Sheriff John Budensiek says the victim had a "significant amount of stab wounds to the upper torso," and that a neighbor tried to intervene during the attack, before deputies arrived at the scene and the suspect finally stopped stabbing the woman.
They say there is no known relation between the suspect and victim, and Francilus has no known criminal history.
Deputies arrived on the scene after neighbors reported a man knocking on doors and acting erratically. The sheriff says Francilus was asking people who answered the door where the new bank was, though there is no bank nearby.
The suspect is now in custody, according to the sheriff's office, and the investigation is still active.
Stay with WPTV for more updates.
