LOS ANGELES, CA – A jury has found a California man guilty of the chilling murder of his girlfriend, whom he attacked at her apartment while she was on the phone. Craig Charron, 39, was convicted of first-degree murder for the brutal 2020 stabbing of 25-year-old Laura Sardinha, a tragic culmination of a series of violent encounters with her former partner.
Charron, a military veteran with a history of violence, was the subject of multiple restraining orders from several women, including Sardinha, who had sought to distance herself from his abusive behavior. Her desperate attempts to escape his grasp included changing her apartment locks and documenting his disturbing behavior, efforts that ultimately proved futile when Charron forced his way into her home.
On the day of Sardinha’s murder, she had recorded herself pleading with Charron to leave her alone. In the recorded confrontation, Sardinha’s terror was palpable as she asked him repeatedly to stop. Ignoring her pleas, Charron continued to impose himself until the fatal confrontation ensued.
During the fatal attack, a voicemail captured the terrifying moments as Sardinha screamed for help, eerily portraying the sound of her murder. Prosecutors described this voicemail as “a woman narrating her own murder,” noting Charron’s silence during the attack as a chilling testament to his intent.
Witnesses during the trial included three women who shared harrowing details of their abusive experiences with Charron, painting a picture of a man whose pattern of violence culminated in Sardinha’s death. Despite Charron’s attempts to portray himself as a victim, including self-inflicted injuries to claim self-defense, the jury found his testimony unconvincing.
Charron had attempted to argue that his mental state during the attack was clouded and that he was unable to comprehend fully what was happening. However, prosecutors dismantled his defense, citing his considerable physical advantage over Sardinha, who had been physically compromised by a previous injury.
After less than a day of deliberation, the jury’s verdict was clear: guilty. Charron’s sentencing is set for July 25, where he will face the repercussions of his actions in the courtroom. The verdict provides a measure of justice for Sardinha’s family, who endured the heart-wrenching loss of a loved one under such devastating circumstances.
As the legal proceedings come to a close, this case highlights the tragic outcomes of intimate partner violence and the urgent need for effective interventions before such tragedies unfold. For Sardinha, who once fought desperately to reclaim her safety and autonomy, the verdict stands as a somber reminder of lives irreversibly changed by domestic abuse.