Woman Stabbed 55 Times After Moving In With Boyfriend
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Rashelle Brussaw was found stabbed 55 times in her new Hamilton, Ohio home on October 11, 2022.
- ❖Her boyfriend, Toby Madden, claimed to have found her and performed CPR, but his account was inconsistent and he showed signs of being under the influence.
- ❖The medical examiner noted defensive wounds on Rashelle, indicating she fought her attacker, and the injuries were consistent with a small foldable knife.
- ❖Investigators found blood in the bathroom sink, suggesting an attempt to clean up, and a washed Swiss Army knife in Toby's backpack.
- ❖Toby initially blamed gas workers who had been at the house earlier, but their alibis were solid, and they confirmed Rashelle was alive when they left.
- ❖Toby had a history of drug trafficking (meth) and paranoia, believing people were 'after him,' which his daughter confirmed was a pattern when he used drugs.
- ❖Toby's daughter, Michaela, revealed a 26-year history of physical, emotional, and verbal abuse by Toby against Rashelle, including past incidents with an axe and a pistol.
- ❖Rashelle had recently tried to get away from Toby and was planning to obtain a restraining order, but missed her court date.
- ❖During his murder trial, Toby Madden spontaneously told his daughter, "I'm responsible for what happened to her. I didn't mean it. I love you," which was recorded and used as evidence.
- ❖Toby was found guilty of murder and felonious assault, receiving a sentence of 15 years to life, with parole eligibility at age 79.
Insights
1Initial Discovery and Suspicion
On October 11, 2022, Toby Madden called 911, frantic, reporting his girlfriend, Rashelle Brussaw, was dead in their new home. Police found Toby attempting CPR on Rashelle, who had multiple stab wounds. His disheveled appearance and claims of sleeping through the incident immediately raised suspicion.
911 call from Toby Madden at ; Police finding Toby on top of Rashelle performing CPR at ; Officer's observation of multiple stab wounds and pale skin at .
2Forensic Evidence and Toby's Inconsistent Narrative
An autopsy revealed Rashelle was stabbed 55 times, with defensive wounds on her hands and arms, consistent with a small foldable knife. Toby's initial story involved gas workers, whom he accused of theft and potentially the murder. However, the workers confirmed Rashelle was alive when they left, and investigators found a washed Swiss Army knife and bloodstains in the bathroom sink, contradicting Toby's claims of not cleaning up.
Autopsy findings of 55 stab wounds and defensive wounds at ; Medical examiner's note on small foldable knife at ; Toby's accusation of gas workers at ; Gas workers' testimony at ; Discovery of blood in bathroom sink at ; Discovery of washed Swiss Army knife at ; Knife cut in Toby's jacket at .
3History of Abuse and Drug-Induced Paranoia
Toby's daughter, Michaela, provided critical testimony detailing a 26-year history of severe domestic abuse, including physical violence (hitting with an axe, pistol-whipping, holding down with a knife) and emotional manipulation. She explained Rashelle's codependency and Toby's meth-induced paranoia, which led him to accuse Rashelle of cheating and threaten her life. Rashelle had recently tried to leave Toby and was seeking a restraining order but missed her court date.
Michaela's testimony on Toby's abusive nature, alcoholism, and drug use at ; Michaela's account of Rashelle's codependency and Toby's manipulation at ; Toby's past conviction for aggravated assault at ; Toby's cousin's testimony about Toby's threats to kill Rashelle at ; Toby's video rant accusing Rashelle of cheating at ; Rashelle's attempt to get a restraining order at .
4Courtroom Confession and Conviction
During the murder trial, Toby Madden, known for his erratic behavior, made a spontaneous admission to his daughter, Michaela, in the courtroom before opening statements. He stated, "I'm responsible for what happened to her. I didn't mean it. I love you." This confession, captured on record, was used by the prosecution and, combined with the physical evidence and family testimonies, led to his conviction for murder and felonious assault.
Toby's spontaneous statement to Michaela in court at ; Prosecutor's use of the statement in opening remarks at ; Jury verdict of guilty at ; Sentencing of 15 years to life at .
Lessons
- Recognize the signs of escalating domestic violence, including controlling behavior, paranoia, and a history of physical abuse, as these can precede fatal incidents.
- Support individuals in abusive relationships by offering safe spaces, resources, and non-judgmental encouragement to seek help, understanding the complexities of codependency and fear that can trap victims.
- Prioritize legal protection, such as restraining orders, and follow through with court dates to establish a formal separation and safeguard against further harm in abusive situations.
Quotes
"He's always been abusive, alcoholic, drug user. Leave on the holidays, events, certain things. We get, you know, would leave on Christmas day and not come back for a while, you know, things like that. It's always been a very abusive physically, emotionally, you know, verbally, all that. My childhood dome domestic violence was a lot. My mom had a um what's it called? a codependency problem where I feel like she wanted to help him and you know help him through everything and be there for him. Um she had a problem being by herself I feel like and I think he manipulated her so much over the years of like staying with him or you know like he's going to hurt her if she leaves things like that."
"I always thought something, you know, I hate to say this, I always thought something bad would happen. Not like this though, like like you would hurt her. Yeah. But not kill her."
"I'm responsible for what happened to her. I didn't mean it. I love you."
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