In a routine court proceeding that took a violent turn, a 28-year-old man facing charges of killing his 20-year-old girlfriend shocked the courtroom by attacking the presiding judge. The accused, David Paradiso, allegedly murdered his girlfriend, Eileen Pelt, by stabbing her in the neck and then compelling his mother to drive so he could dispose of the body near a wooded area.
During the trial, when questioned about his motive, Paradiso chillingly responded with, “She deserved to die,” causing an uproar in the courtroom. His family claimed he was mentally unstable and unfit to stand trial, leading to chaos and a temporary halt in proceedings.
The situation escalated when Paradiso leaped from the witness box and assaulted Superior Court Judge Cinda Fox, stabbing her multiple times with a homemade metal weapon. Detective Eric Bradley, who was involved in the murder investigation, intervened by fatally shooting Paradiso in the head to prevent further harm.
Paradiso’s mother later expressed her belief that her son, plagued by mental illness, intentionally provoked the police into ending his life. Prior to the tragic incident, she had anonymously alerted authorities about her concerns regarding her son possessing a weapon, but her warnings went unheeded.
Despite documented mental health issues and a refusal to testify, the trial culminated in a fatal confrontation. Paradiso’s family questioned the failure to address his mental health concerns and mourned the tragic outcome of the trial.