NJ Man Stabbed Girlfriend 17 Times After Taking Hallucinogens, Hid Body In Tent

VIRGINIA — A Passaic County man has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend at a Virginia campground and attempting to hide her body, authorities said.

On Sept. 24, 2023, Rami El-Sayed, 36, of Paterson, and his girlfriend, Cara Abbruscato, 40, were camping at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax County, Virginia.

After the pair took hallucinogenic mushrooms, El-Sayed stabbed Abbruscato 17 times with a knife, including six times in her neck, according to Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano.

Abbruscato tried to fight back by scratching El-Sayed’s face and neck, but was ultimately killed, court records show.

Officials said witnesses at the campground heard both Abbruscato screaming at the time of the attack, and later heard El-Sayed shouting.

El-Sayed then zipped up their tent in an attempt to hide Abbruscato’s body, and drove back to his hometown of Paterson, officials said.

Abbruscato’s body was found six days after the murder when campers smelled a foul odor coming from her tent, officials said. In addition to the 17 stab wounds, forensics experts discovered that Abbruscato had El-Sayed’s DNA under her fingernails.

El-Sayed was arrested in Paterson on Oct. 2, 2023, and extradited back to Virginia about a month later.

On Monday, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and concealing a dead body.

“For someone who loved life as much as Cara did, this is maybe the most cruel ending imaginable,” said Descano. “Today, her murderer was held accountable. Nothing can bring Cara back, but to her family and friends: I hope this allows you to begin to heal.”

He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2026, and faces life in prison for the murder charge and five years for concealing the body.