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Man Kills Wife and Child, Then Hangs Self in Manhattan, Police Say Man Kills Wife and Child, Then Hangs Self in Manhattan, Police Say
(about 3 hours later)
They were a family about to break up. The police found them Wednesday night behind their apartment door in Harlem —  a 5-year-old girl, her mother and father — all dead.They were a family about to break up. The police found them Wednesday night behind their apartment door in Harlem —  a 5-year-old girl, her mother and father — all dead.
The 46-year-old father was found hanging in one bedroom, the police said. His 42-year-old wife was found in the bathroom, with her throat slit. The couple’s 5-year-old girl was found dead in another bedroom, also with her throat cut, the police said.The 46-year-old father was found hanging in one bedroom, the police said. His 42-year-old wife was found in the bathroom, with her throat slit. The couple’s 5-year-old girl was found dead in another bedroom, also with her throat cut, the police said.
Police officials said they believed the man was responsible for all three deaths. They also said the couple was in the middle of a divorce proceeding.Police officials said they believed the man was responsible for all three deaths. They also said the couple was in the middle of a divorce proceeding.
The man was Yonathan Tedla, and his wife was Jennifer Schlecht, the woman’s father, Kenneth Schlecht, said. The couple’s daughter, Abnysh, had just turned five in September.The man was Yonathan Tedla, and his wife was Jennifer Schlecht, the woman’s father, Kenneth Schlecht, said. The couple’s daughter, Abnysh, had just turned five in September.
Mr. Schlecht, 75, said his daughter had expressed fear for her and her child’s safety in a telephone call to her parents. She had called her parents on Sunday.Mr. Schlecht, 75, said his daughter had expressed fear for her and her child’s safety in a telephone call to her parents. She had called her parents on Sunday.
“She was in tears, a basket case,” her father recalled. “She didn’t know if he would carry on with the threats.”“She was in tears, a basket case,” her father recalled. “She didn’t know if he would carry on with the threats.”
Mr. Schlecht said Mr. Tedla had told Ms. Schlecht that he “was going to ruin her or take all of them down.”Mr. Schlecht said Mr. Tedla had told Ms. Schlecht that he “was going to ruin her or take all of them down.”
“He said he was not going to lose, that he always wins,” Mr. Schlecht said.“He said he was not going to lose, that he always wins,” Mr. Schlecht said.
Her family tried calling her all day on Wednesday, but she didn’t pick up, her father said. “It was not like her,” he said. After 9 p.m. the family called 911 and asked the police to check on her. “They had to break into the floor and found three bodies,” he said. Her family tried calling her all day on Wednesday, but she didn’t pick up, her father said. “It was not like her,” he said. After 9 p.m. the family called 911 and asked the police to check on her. “They had to break into the floor and found three bodies,” he said.
“How do you do this?” Mr. Schlecht said. “Kill your own child?”“How do you do this?” Mr. Schlecht said. “Kill your own child?”
He said his daughter had married Mr. Tedla about seven years ago. They met at Columbia University, where she studied public health and social work. He said his daughter had married Mr. Tedla about seven years ago. They met at Columbia University, where she studied public health and social work.
Ms. Schlecht worked for the United Nations Foundation in New York, officials said. According to her LinkedIn page, she was a senior adviser specializing in reproductive health, humanitarian response and other issues.
Mr. Schlecht added that his daughter was a giving person who often traveled to Kenya and other African countries to help the needy.
Mr. Tedla worked as a computer contractor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, in the population and family health department. In a phone interview, the chair of the department, Terry McGovern, said she knew the whole family and that “we’re kind of in shock here.”
When the Schlecht family first met Mr. Tedla, he seemed like a “very smart, clever person,” Mr. Schlecht said. But later, he added, Mr. Tedla become violent toward Ms. Schlecht and she tried for years to leave him. He refused to go, ripping up the divorce papers each time she tried.When the Schlecht family first met Mr. Tedla, he seemed like a “very smart, clever person,” Mr. Schlecht said. But later, he added, Mr. Tedla become violent toward Ms. Schlecht and she tried for years to leave him. He refused to go, ripping up the divorce papers each time she tried.
“She could not change the locks as long as he legally lived there,” Mr. Schlecht said. “She was planning to serve him divorce papers and an order of protection first.”“She could not change the locks as long as he legally lived there,” Mr. Schlecht said. “She was planning to serve him divorce papers and an order of protection first.”
He said his daughter was a giving person who often traveled to Kenya to help the needy. Officials said Ms. Schlecht had filed an order of protection in 2016. Police said they had no record of domestic incidents at the location.
Nearly 600 New Yorkers were killed in domestic violence incidents from 2010 to 2018, according to an annual city report. More than half of those victims were killed by spouses or partners.
To neighbors, the family’s inner turmoil was not apparent. They said Mr. Tedla seemed to dote on his young daughter and was often seen in the neighborhood carrying her on his shoulders. “He looked really, really happy all the time,” one neighbor said. “He was always smiling.”To neighbors, the family’s inner turmoil was not apparent. They said Mr. Tedla seemed to dote on his young daughter and was often seen in the neighborhood carrying her on his shoulders. “He looked really, really happy all the time,” one neighbor said. “He was always smiling.”
Another neighbor, Jane Chancellor, 82, said on Thursday that she saw the family from time to time, and neither of the parents had mentioned they were going through a divorce.Another neighbor, Jane Chancellor, 82, said on Thursday that she saw the family from time to time, and neither of the parents had mentioned they were going through a divorce.
“I talked to him yesterday,” Ms. Chancellor said, breaking into tears. “I clean the sidewalk and he jogs everyday, and he stretches and we joke.”“I talked to him yesterday,” Ms. Chancellor said, breaking into tears. “I clean the sidewalk and he jogs everyday, and he stretches and we joke.”
She said she could not fathom how he had killed his daughter, whom she called “a precious thing.”She said she could not fathom how he had killed his daughter, whom she called “a precious thing.”
“How could he!” she said.“How could he!” she said.
Laura Dimon contributed additional reporting. Kitty Bennett contributed research.Laura Dimon contributed additional reporting. Kitty Bennett contributed research.