DOJ secures life prison sentences for 2022 murder, carjackings

A New Castle woman has been sentenced for her role in a fatal March 2022 crime spree.

On October 24, 2025, Brittallia Semaan, 34, was sentenced to a total of 2 life sentences plus 45 years in prison. Semaan had previously been indicted and found Guilty but Mentally Ill on 31 charges, including Murder First Degree, Felony Murder First Degree, Robbery First Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon during the Commission of a Felony, Assault First Degree, Kidnapping First Degree, Leaving the Scene, Reckless Endangering First Degree, and Criminal Mischief; those charges were laid following an investigation by the Delaware State Police and the Delaware Department of Justice.

"I am deeply grateful to our DOJ team and the Delaware State Police for their excellent work in this case," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "Nothing can bring back the life that was taken or undo the trauma of the crimes that were committed - but I hope that this sentencing can bring the victims' families a modicum of peace as they try to heal."

On March 13, 2022, Semaan carjacked a Chevrolet Trax from an adult and two children, biting and hitting the adult non-fatally with the vehicle. After driving away with the stolen vehicle, she intentionally struck and killed Joseph Stanavich, who was walking along the shoulder of Route 9. She then drove into the parking lot of the Brandywine Valley SPCA, where she struck and injured another victim with the vehicle. Following this, she intentionally collided with a vehicle at Rt. 141 and Washington Street in New Castle, where she then stole a Ford Explorer from a passerby who stopped to help, driving off with another occupant still in the vehicle. As she fled, Semaan was spotted by both an off-duty Wilmington Police Department officer and a former New Castle County Police officer, each there independently, both of whom proceeded to call 911 and follow her. After witnessing her crash into another vehicle at the intersection of Route 9 and Hamburg Road, they took Semaan into custody to prevent her from fleeing again and held her until Delaware State Police arrived.

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