Father strangles 3-year-old daughter to death
Paramedics called to central Israel's Moshav Batzra pronounce toddler dead at scene; visible signs of violence said to be found on body. Father attempts suicide but later admits to act. Police officers describe scene as 'extremely difficult'
Three-year-old Noa Goldring was found dead in Moshav Batzra in central Israel, Saturday.The toddler's father, Asaf, admitted to strangling her in a letter he wrote before trying to kill himself.
In the detailed letter, the father wrote about the sorrow involved in his recent divorce proceedings. Investigators suspect he murdered his daughter out of revenge against his wife.
Magen David Adom emergency services were called to the family home, but the paramedics could do nothing but pronounce the toddler dead at the scene.
The paramedics reported finding the girl in one of the house's bedrooms, unconscious. Her father was found semiconscious by her side, after attempting suicide.
Visible signs of violence were found all over the toddler's body, and blood was spotted beside her. She had apparently died several hours before the paramedics were called.
The scene (Photo: Ido Erez)
Paramedic Mickey Kafri, who was first on the scene, told Ynet he and his partner "found the girl unconscious. We administered CPR, but there was nothing we could do for her. We stabilized the father and evacuated him to a nearby hospital."
Initial police investigation revealed that the child's grandfather called his son prior to arriving at the family home to visit. He told the police his son sounded incoherent over the phone, and that concerned, he rushed over to the house.
According to the grandfather, his son let him in and then attempted to slash his wrists. The two fought and he eventually managed to pry the knife out of his son's hands. He also told the police his son gave to explanation for his actions.
A senior officer at the scene told Ynet that "seeing such a pretty little girl lying there lifeless and knowing her own father killed her… this is an extremely difficult scene, even for a veteran officer like me, who's seen many bodies."
The whereabouts of the three-year-old's mother are unknown at this time and the police are trying to locate her. The police have been able to ascertain that the couple is undergoing divorce proceedings, and that no complaints of domestic violence have even been filed by either spouse, nor do any of them have a criminal record.
Hasharon Subdistrict Police Commander Brigadier-General Kobi Cohen and Chief Superintendent Shai Azulai, chief of the Kfar Saba Police, were both at the scene, personally deposing witnesses.
