Warning: This article contains discussions of domestic violence which may be distressing for some readers.
A 39-year-old man has been convicted of murdering a California woman, with a 37-second voicemail capturing the final terrifying moments of her life.
Craig J. Charron was found guilty of first-degree murder by a Santa Ana jury on Tuesday, April 29, for the 2020 murder of his ex-girlfriend, 25-year-old Laura Sardinha.
On September 2, 2020, Sardinha was on a call with her mother and her best friend when Charron showed up at her apartment. This was after she had inquired about changing her locks with her leasing office.
Earlier that day, Sardinha recorded an encounter where she pleaded with Charron to leave her alone, saying, “Please get away from me.”
Charron replied, “All I want is to be with you,” to which Sardinha responded, “You terrify me, because you don’t leave.”
After having her locks changed, Sardinha stopped answering Charron’s calls. At approximately 1:15 pm, while on the phone with her mom and friend, they heard her exclaim, “Oh my God, he’s here.”
While her friend contacted 911, Sardinha left a voicemail that was later played during the trial.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Orange County Deputy District Attorney Janine Madera stated in court: “If you listen to it carefully, you hear a woman narrating her own murder.”
In the voicemail, Sardinha’s screams were audible, “He’s gonna kill me!” and “Get away from me!”
When police arrived, they found Sardinha deceased with two stab wounds to her chest, a severe cut to her nose, and a head wound inflicted with such force that it bent the knife.
It remains uncertain how Charron entered the apartment, though he claimed he walked through an unlocked door.
Officers also discovered Charron had self-inflicted wounds to his chest and neck, which prosecutors suggested were meant to support a narrative that Sardinha, significantly smaller and lighter, had attacked him.
Madera commented on Charron’s injuries, stating: “It doesn’t matter if he self-inflicted wounds or if she defended herself. He was the aggressor 100 percent of the time.”
In court, Charron described the encounter with Sardinha as “hazy,” asserting that she approached him with a knife, prompting him to act in self-defense.
“I didn’t quite comprehend what was happening in the moment,” he testified. “It’s taking me a second to understand I’m being cut up.”
During the trial, three of Charron’s former girlfriends testified, revealing they had secured restraining orders against him due to his violent behavior.
Madera noted Charron’s absence from the voicemail, adding: “You don’t hear the defendant on it, and his silence is absolutely deafening. He’s enjoying taking his time killing her.”
The jury reached a verdict in less than a day, and Charron now faces the possibility of life imprisonment when he is sentenced on July 25.
If you are facing domestic violence, remember you are not alone. You can reach out confidentially 24/7 to the national domestic violence helpline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233). Local resources are also available for support.