Grandmother stabber goes to prison

South County Courthouse

A man who stabbed his friend’s grandmother while she was steam-cleaning her carpets in her Chula Vista home was sentenced April 29 to eight years in state prison.

Andreas Estrada, 23, of Florida, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Esteban Hernandez, who gave Estrada credit for already serving almost 13 months in jail since the April 6, 2009, incident.

Ada Dean, 73, attended the sentencing and told the judge she didn’t understand why Estrada attacked her.

She had met Estrada the day before while he was visiting her grandson, she said. She was stabbed in the neck, chest and hands and was hospitalized.

“We never did find a motive,” said Deputy District Attorney Enrique Camarena, who added that Estrada apparently had “mental health issues.”

The victim’s grandson was not in the room when the attack happened and Estrada surprised her from behind. The grandson heard the commotion and held Estrada down until Chula Vista Police arrived and arrested him.

Estrada pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon in March and agreed to accept an eight-year term. The judge dismissed charges of attempted murder and elder abuse after Estrada pleaded guilty to assault.

His lawyer last year said she suspected he was not mentally competent to stand trial, and psychiatrists were appointed to examine him. Another judge reviewed their report and found he was mentally fit to stand trial.