Casarez sentenced to 23 years in prison for MATC stabbing

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee County judge sentenced Ruben Casarez Jr. to 23 years in prison plus another 20 years of extended supervision for attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Casarez is the man who fatally stabbed his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend at Milwaukee Area Technical College in September 2012.

On September 12, 2012, Casarez arranged to meet his ex-girlfriend in a room at MATC after she had repeatedly told him the relationship was over.

"The defendant took a, a guess probably a 14-inch butcher knife with a serrated edge and started to stab her over and over and over again," said Nicholas Heitman, the prosecutor.

Two men in another room heard the victim's screams, ran to the room, and kicked in the door.

"Mr. Baker and Mr. Harley rushed at the defendant. Pulled the defendant away and Mr. Baker reported as he was pulling the defendant away from Ms. Johnson. He was stomping on her with his feet," said Heitman.

The defense attorney said Casarez's rage stemmed from the victim telling him he might not be the father of their child. She said his initial plan was to kill himself.

A friend of Casarez told the court on Tuesday why the break-up was so painful for him.

"He clearly was obsessed with the idea of having some kind of environment where there was some love and support," said Charles Fox.

Casarez had a tragic childhood of being taken from his mother at age two and put in foster care. He wound up in 19 different foster care placements. But the judge on Tuesday said that's no excuse -- and Casarez never used it as one.

"There`s no excuse for it. I'd just like to apologize to the victim. I never meant to hurt her and I'd like to apologize to my son and daughter for not being there," said Casarez.

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