Man Sentenced in Fire Pit Poker Stabbing, Home Invasion

A Chicago man was sentenced to 17 years in prison Wednesday for allegedly beating and stabbing an Addison man after breaking into his apartment in 2012.

Runaldo Ramsey, 35, was found guilty of home invasion and two counts of aggravated battery in a two-day trial in August, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Ramsey must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

Prosecutors say around midnight June 9, 2012, Steve Stanley of Addison heard Ramsey outside the window of his apartment. Stanley let Ramsey inside, and the two had a brief conversation before Ramsey reportedly attacked Stanley with a fire pit poker, the state’s attorney’s office reported.

Stanley was stabbed with the poker twice in the head and five times in the back. Prosecutors say Ramsey fled the apartment, and Stanley called 911 and was taken to a hospital.

An Addison Police Department investigation led authorities to arrest Ramsey. He posted 10 percent of his $40,000 bail Sept. 7, 2012 to be released.

“Three years ago, Mr. Stanley’s life was forever changed when he was savagely beaten and repeatedly stabbed with a fire poker by Runaldo Ramsey,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert. B. Berlin in a statement. “To this day and for the rest of his life, Mr. Stanley will carry the emotional and physical scars inflicted upon him as a reminder of what Mr. Ramsey did to him. It is my hope that with today’s sentence, Mr. Stanley will find some solace in knowing that the man who is responsible for those scars will spend a significant amount of time behind bars.”