A routine court hearing in San Joaquin County turned into a scene of terror when a man on trial for murder suddenly attacked the presiding judge.
David Paradiso, 28, was facing charges for the stabbing death of his 20-year-old girlfriend, Eileen Pelt, whose body he reportedly attempted to dispose of in nearby woods. During the trial, when prosecutors asked why he committed the crime, Paradiso shocked the courtroom by replying, “She deserved to die.” Gasps echoed through the room as family members protested, citing his mental health issues and claiming he was unfit to testify.
As the trial was recessed and the jury was dismissed, Paradiso leapt from the witness box and assaulted Superior Court Judge Cinda Fox, punching her and stabbing her repeatedly in the arm with a homemade six-inch metal weapon. Detective Eric Bradley, who had investigated Paradiso’s murder case, intervened and shot Paradiso three times in the head, killing him instantly.
Paradiso’s mother, Debra, later suggested that her son may have intended to provoke such a violent outcome. The accused had been held in remand for two years and was found to have traces of methamphetamine in his system. Two weeks before the incident, Debra had warned the local sheriff anonymously that her son might have obtained a weapon, but her warning was not acted upon.
Both family members and law enforcement have since questioned the handling of Paradiso’s mental health issues, emphasizing that multiple warnings and documentation were reportedly overlooked prior to the courtroom attack.
