In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, Celeste Manno, a vibrant young woman in the prime of her life, faced an untimely demise at the hands of her obsessive stalker, Luay Nader Sako.
The chilling story unfolds as Celeste chooses to publicly declare her newfound love on Instagram, only to be ruthlessly murdered by Sako mere hours later. This devastating incident unfolded on November 16, 2020, casting a pall of grief over the tight-knit communities of Loyola Academy and Wilmette mourning the loss of the dynamic 24-year-old.
In April, Luay Sako, a 39-year-old resident of Roxburgh Park, entered a guilty plea for the charge of homicide after an unsuccessful attempt to contest the charges.
The court laid bare distressing details about Sako’s relentless surveillance, which escalated into a heinous crime. Sako mercilessly stabbed Celeste 23 times in her bed, driven by a fit of rage upon seeing her with her new companion, Chris Ridsdale.
Revelations in court disclosed that Sako and Celeste had briefly worked together at the Serco call center in South Morang, where she held the position of a team leader.
Despite Sako’s dismissal, Celeste had shown kindness to him on his last day, unaware of the darkness that lurked within him. The fatal assault, lasting a mere two and a half minutes, commenced at 4:10 a.m., culminating in Sako voluntarily surrendering at a nearby police station.
Leading up to the tragic incident, Sako bombarded Celeste with incessant messages professing his love, creating an atmosphere fraught with fear and unease.
On his last day, Celeste had even walked him to his vehicle, a seemingly innocuous act that ended with him kissing her on the cheek. The court revealed that Sako had been charged with stalking and harassment, and an intervention order was in effect at the time of the homicide.
Despite pleas from Celeste and her mother to cease the incessant and distressing communications, the messages persisted. Celeste, with her courteous and tactful demeanor, tried to defuse the situation by conveying her professional regards and extending best wishes to Sako on his new employment. However, her efforts seemed to intensify Sako’s obsession.
As the correspondence continued, Celeste informed Sako that she was going to the police to report his harassment. Despite a momentary respite, Sako’s fixation intensified during the Covid-19 lockdowns in Victoria.
His presence around Celeste’s workplace prompted an intervention order. Tragically, mere hours after announcing her new romantic partnership, Celeste confided in her supervisor, expressing her fear for her life.
The court proceedings laid bare the gruesome details of Celeste’s murder, with Sako challenging the precise count of stab wounds inflicted upon her. Celeste’s family endured the traumatic ordeal of watching Sako interrogate forensic experts regarding the heinous crime. Sako’s disruptive conduct in court and his attempts to alter his guilty plea further prolonged the pursuit of justice.
This tragic case serves as a poignant illustration of the severe repercussions that can result from unchecked obsession, emphasizing the critical need to implement protective measures for stalking victims.
The narrative of Celeste Manno underscores the importance of public education about the dangers of surveillance and the urgent necessity of safeguarding those who are the targets of such threats. As legal proceedings continue, the family and friends of Celeste prepare to deliver victim-impact statements that illuminate the profound repercussions of this senseless tragedy.
