A man police say brutally slashed and killed a woman with a knife in broad daylight has a long list of prior arrests, according to court documents.
Eric Russell Andreasen, 37, is accused of stabbing Katherine Parker, 54, Friday in the parking lot outside a Hallmark store in the 2400 Block of Vista Way in Oceanside. She was visiting from Lincoln in Northern California with her family.
"He cut her across the stomach, he cut her across the neck, and he cut her mouth and up," said one witness. After the stabbing she says he threw the knife, then sat down and waited for police to arrive.
According to Orange County court records obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune, Andreasen pleaded guilty to several crimes between 1999 and 2003, including:
- Battery on a peace officer
- Public intoxication
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Failing to register as a sex offender.
Andreasen was sentenced to jail and probation in some of the cases, the paper reported.
Oceanside police also arrested him in 2004 on suspicion of attempted robbery, battery and assault with a deadly weapon the paper reported.
The suspect briefly talked about his past, the victim and whether he regrets the alleged killing from jail Saturday. He has a tattoo on his right arm that reads “Demon” – an appropriate word for the crime he is accused of committing.
- Reporter: “Did you know the woman who was killed yesterday?”
- Andreasen: “No, I don’t know the woman who was killed yesterday.”
- Reporter: “Had you seen her before?”
- Andreasen: “I’m not sure, I don’t think so.”
- Reporter: “Do you regret what happened?”
- Andreasen: “Not exactly.”
The suspect did not want his face to be seen on camera.
Andreasen said he had been abused in prison before and had just got off parole. When the reporter tried to press him further about the stabbing he said “no more questions,” and put down the phone.
The victim was airlifted to Scripps La Jolla Hospital with critical injuries Friday where she later died. There is no clear motive and the attack appears to be random.
Andreasen is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.
