Celeste Manno was a 23-year-old former high school cheerleader from Melbourne who worked at a call center.^[1][2] She was stabbed to death in her own bed, allegedly by a 35-year-old male co-worker, Luay Sako, who was infatuated with the young woman.^[3]

Celeste Manno was born on November 22, 1996 in Catania, Italy, and moved with her family to Melbourne, Australia.^[4] She was a cheerleader at Lalor Secondary College. Celeste also studied criminology and psychology at RMIT University. The 23-year-old was employed at Serco, a call center, at the time of her death.^[1]

On November 16, 2020 at about 4 a.m., Celeste Manno was found dead in her bedroom at her family’s home in Mernda. She was brutally stabbed to death while asleep in her bed. Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the gruesome crime scene. ^[1][2]

According to local reports, Celeste Manno was “slaughtered in her bed” by an intruder who broke in through a bedroom window.^[2] The killer carried out a “frenzied knife attack” on the young woman, repeatedly stabbing her in the chest and torso as she lay in bed.^[5]

Police arrived to find the cheerleader had been “butchered” by the stalker in the blood-spattered home.^[6][7] Graphic photos from the crime scene show smeared blood dripping down a metal fence outside the house.^{[1] [6]} A coroner's van removed the bloodied remains of Celeste Manno.^[6][7]

Later on the same day that Celeste Manno was killed, a former co-worker of the young victim was arrested after he turned himself in to police.

^[1] On November 18, the identity of the suspect was confirmed by police as Luay Sako, age 35, from Roxburgh Park.

He had worked with Celeste at the Serco call center, but he was fired over a year ago.

^[3]

Luay Sako reportedly developed an infatuation with Celeste Manno, who is 12 years his junior, after she supported him when he was fired from his job in 2019.

When she told Sako she was not interested in him romantically, Sako began sending the cheerleader “disgusting and vulgar abuse” on Instagram, according to her family.^[8][25]

Celeste Manno eventually blocked Sako on social media, but he created dozens of fake accounts to continue stalking her.

Throughout 2020, Luay Sako became increasingly obsessive over the young woman, her family says.

^[9]

On Saturday, November 14, Celeste Manno posted a photo to social media that shows the young woman linking hands with her boyfriend, Chris Ridsdale.

It was the first time Celeste Manno posted a photo of herself with a man since the stalking began.

^[10]

Her family believes this photo, which showed Celeste touching another man, pushed Sako over the edge and into a “stabbing frenzy.”

^[10][11]

On November 19, Luay Sako was charged with the murder of Celeste Manno, age 23.

A lawyer for the accused told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that 35-year-old Sako was not on any medication at the time the girl was killed.

Sako also has no history of psychological illness.

^[5]

On November 20, investigators found a smartphone discarded near the home of Celeste Manno.

The investigators believe the phone may belong to Sako, and could contain information that is “crucial” to prosecuting the accused killer.

^[12]

Luay Sako is being held without bail as the investigation continues.^[5]