DHS: Man indicted for ex-girlfriend’s murder sneaked into country

WORCESTER, Mass. — The man accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Amanda Dabrowski, inside a Worcester restaurant in July has no record of re-entry, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

In early July, Dabrowksi was at O’Connor’s Restaurant in Worcester for a book club when officials say her ex-boyfriend Carlos Asencio tracked her down and stabbed her to death.

On Friday, Asencio, 28, was indicted by a Worcester County grand jury on charges of murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

The 31-year-old and Asencio met at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Devens, Massachusetts, where they both worked. They dated for two months before Amanda reportedly broke it off. Soon after she ended things, on Easter morning, Asencio reportedly broke into Dabrowski’s Ayer home armed with a handgun and stun gun. According to the documents, the intruder “tased” her, tried “strangling her” and “took out a handgun and pointed it at her.”

Within hours of the attack, authorities say Asencio took off heading north to Vermont and crossing into Canada. From there, they say he boarded a plane in Montreal that was bound for Mexico.

Days after the attack, Dabrowski’s parents say they called Bristol-Myers Squibb saying Amanda had been the victim of a violent crime. The next day, she was fired.

Two weeks after the home invasion, 25 Investigates learned Dabrowski got a restraining order against Asencio. Two days later, police records show, Dabrowski personally went to the Webster Police Department to report a “concerning email” she believed was sent by Asencio. That day, she told the police “She does not feel safe.” After the home invasion, the Middlesex County District Attorney issued a warrant for Asencio arrest and notified federal authorities, including U.S. Marshalls, the Department of Justice and Customs and Border Patrol. That active warrant should have triggered an arrest if Asencio attempted to return to the United States.

It’s unclear how or when Asencio returned to the country and U.S. CBP claims they have no record of Asencio re-entering the country.

“Because CBP has no such record, we, unfortunately, assess that Mr. Asencio entered the United States illegally by bypassing a port of entry,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a report dated Dec. 18, 2019.

Boston 25 learned that Asencio was tracking Dabrowski’s every move prior to her death. Police records show a cellphone was reportedly taped to the bottom of her car. Sources told 25 Investigates Asencio was likely using the phone’s GPS to track her.

After the stabbing, police charged Asencio with murder; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; armed assault with intent to murder; disorderly conduct; disturbing the peace; resisting arrest; and an outstanding warrant.

Asencio was deemed incompetent to stand trial back in July. A judge ruled that Asencio can continue his psychiatric evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital until February 2020. He will be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court at a later date.

>> Previous Boston 25 News reports:

Woman stabbed inside Worcester restaurant has died; N.H. man charged with murder

Man accused of killing woman at restaurant allegedly attacked her at home in April

Man accused of murdering ex-girlfriend may have been tracking her location

Man accused of killing ex-girlfriend fled, re-entered US before alleged murder

Woman stabbed in Worcester restaurant sought help from police before murder

25 Investigates: Local woman fired 2 days after surviving domestic violence

Man accused of killing ex-girlfriend to remain in hospital, judge rules

Court docs: Suspect attacked ex at home, Worcester restaurant after breakup

Mass. congressman ‘frustrated’ by lack of answers from feds in Worcester murder

Worcester murder victim attempted to protect herself from man accused of killing her