Woonsocket Man to Serve 20 Years for Jan. 25 Stabbing

A city man arrested by Woonsocket Police Jan. 25 on charges of stabbing a woman multiple times pled guilty to the attack in Superior Court today, receiving 20 years to serve.

Louis Callei, 24, of 242 Burnside Ave., pled guilty before Superior Court
Justice Netti C. Vogel to assault with a dangerous weapon in a dwelling with intent to murder, according to a release from the office of Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin. Vogel sentenced Callei to 40 years, with 20 to serve and the remainder suspended with probation.

According to the release, Callei, dressed in black clothes, a bandana covering his face and knife in hand, forced entry into the woman’s apartment that afternoon during a robbery gone wrong. While her attacker was looking away, the woman was able to pull down his bandana and recognized the man as Louis Callei.

Once inside the apartment, Callei began stabbing at the woman, who fought back with a baseball bat. During the struggle, Callei got possession of the bat and began striking her with it. At the time same, he stabbed her multiple times with the knife, hitting her in the hip and chest. She continued to fight and was able to kick Callei, fleeing into the stairwell, where the defendant again stabbed her, this time in the back and face.

The woman grabbed the Callei in the groin and he let go. She stumbled down the stairs screaming for help, with Callei following, stabbing her again in the face and chest. At this point, according to the release, Callei became excited at the sight of blood and told the victim to “just die.”

Finally, the victim was able to make her way to the front yard, where a neighbor chased the defendant away while another neighbor called the police.

Woonsocket Police recieved the call around 6:30 p.m. and responded to an apartment building on Social Street. A witness told officers the suspect had fled toward Peters River. Four officers chased Callei and three jumped into the river to catch him.

Woonsocket Police Sergeant Shawn Kerrigan led the investigation and Assistant Attorney General Stephen Regine prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.

Amy Kempe, spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office, commended the woman on her spirit and will to fight Callei. “It was because of her bravery in fighting her attacker as vigorously and as much as she did that she was able to escape."

Callei has been held without bail since the time of his arrest. He will serve his sentence at the ACI in Cranston.