Photo: Hunington Beach Police
A jury in Orange County swiftly convicted Craig Charron, 39, of first-degree murder for the brutal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend, Laura Sardinha, on Tuesday (April 29). Sardinha, 25, had made secret recordings of Charron's abuse, which tragically captured her own murder.
Sardinha, who had taken out a restraining order against Charron, was trying to end their relationship when the attack occurred. On September 2, 2020, she was on a call with her mother and best friend when Charron entered her Huntington Beach apartment. Sardinha left a chilling voicemail narrating the attack, which was later described by Orange County Deputy District Attorney Janine Madera as "a woman narrating her own murder."
Charron, an Air Force veteran, had a history of violence against women, with several ex-girlfriends testifying about past abuse. Despite his defense claiming self-defense, the jury found him guilty. Prosecutors detailed how Charron stabbed Sardinha multiple times, nearly severing her nose and bending a knife in the process.
Charron now faces 26 years to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for July 25. The case highlights the dangers of domestic abuse and the importance of taking protective measures.