Parents Of Murdered Brooklyn Boy In The Dark About Dismemberment

Murder suspect Levi Aron in court yesterday (AP)

Levi Aron, the man who previously confessed to killing and dismembering an 8-year-old Hasidic boy this week, pled not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping yesterday in court. As inmates screamed "F----- killer!" and onlookers yelled "murderer," his lawyer planted the seeds for an insanity defense ("He hears voices and suffers from hallucinations"), and Aron was held for a psychiatric exam and put on suicide watch. On his weekly radio show this morning, Mayor Bloomberg revealed that he had spoken to Leiby Kletzky's parents, and lamented that he "couldn't explain" to them how such a horrible crime could occur: "How could anybody be this sick?"

It also came out today that Leiby's parents did not attend his burial after a massive funeral service because it was too painful, according to a family friend. In addition, they have been kept in the dark about how Leiby died—they don't know he was dismembered. Family friend Jonathan Schwartz, whose son was friends with Leiby, said the parents have not expressed anger toward Aron: "All they say is that this is something that God wanted and they have to accept it with love and peace," Schwartz said. Leiby's grandmother said she couldn't speak at all. "It's not going to bring my grandson back," she said.

Even though investigators say there was no evidence of sexual abuse, police have established that Leiby had been tied up by rope, and struggled with Aron as he suffocated him to death, leaving marks on the 35-year-old man's wrists. Police continue to investigate Aron's written confession—they are looking into whether he had taken Aron to a wedding in Rockland County Monday night after a chance meeting earlier that day, when the boy got lost walking from camp to meet his parents seven blocks away.

The murder of Leiby has shook the insular world of Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community—Aron was not on a list of suspected child predators kept by the Borough Park Shomrim patrol. "No one ever complained to us about him," Borough Park Shomrim member Jacob Daskel said. He also explained, "The community doesn't go to the police with these names because the rabbis don't let you. It's not right."

Even though the Shomrim were unable to locate Aron, police were aided by amateur sleuth Yaakov German, who spent all day Monday and Tuesday banging on doors and demanding to see security footage at local stores, eventually leading to tape of Aron going into his dentist's office, then coming out and leading Leiby away.

The thing the Orthodox community is most shocked by is that Aron was one of their own. "Everybody is confused here because this never happens between Jewish people," said Barukh Badalov, who owns a barbershop on 48th St. Although the ultra-Orthodox community of Borough Park has long been untrusting of outsiders, they admit that they would go out of their way for others in their community. “If you’re in the airport and need help, a Jew will help you. I pick up hitchhikers, boys waiting to go to yeshiva. When I travel and see another Jew, we’ll eyeball each other; there’s a connection. Everywhere you go, all over the world. I’ll still do it,” Yocheved Schachter told the Times.

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By Ben Yakas in News on July 15, 2011 2:48 PM

Comments [rss]

ali_moein

It is only natural. the boy dead in crowded world.

Sofie_T

How could you not go to your own child's funeral? .. this will haunt them forever.. I couldn't do this. Plus who allows an 8 year old child walk those many blocks alone! My daughter was at least 12 before she could walk a few (2) blocks from school while I waited for her on the corner.. People need to be aware at all times that these sort of things can happen to you at any time..I live very close to this area & trust me it's not a good neighborhood.

1 day before the child's body was found I saw the family driving around putting up flyers..Very sad for the entire family.

Chaz Furguson

The parents DID GO to the funeral, you misread. They DID NOT GO to the burial afterwards.

Bambi Blue

Honestly, funerals aren't for everyone. That's not to say there isn't a place for them. I hear a lot of people say they're good for closure but in a case like this where everything happens so fast I'm sure the parents are still reeling a bit -- closure may not be that simple. (I hate to use the word 'simple' there, it seems so diminishing).

I can only speak for myself -- sometimes I attend funerals and sometimes, for those who I'm significantly affected by, I don't. I'm private with my grief, sometimes. I can imagine being doubly so in a case where there might be reporters and television cameras and people asking me how I'm coping.

Erica Bowman

Its sad that they are led to believe that God has something to do with this as well as with other tragedies. How can you tell parents of this child that 'you cant explain why God does this'. And then expect them to worship that same God. It's strange. If God needs another angel, he creates one...doesn't need someone from earth. And if they are taken away, it's because there are bad ppl and crazy ppl and they are influenced by a negative force. Say what you will about my comment, but...think about it. What would be the purpose of punishing ppl in such a way and then expecting them to worship you. Was never the intention. 'Time n unforeseen occurrence befalls us all'. Eccl. 9;11. Wrong place, bad time...sometimes causes bad things to happen. And they should know tht script. Its in the Hebrew scriptures. Sad story...but don't blame God for such tragedies...it's not healthy.

1nycgurl

So sad-but lots of loose ends. Interesting- for a community that prides itself on supporting its own, he has a black attorney.

Condolences to the family.

canofpeas

My first thoughts about the killing of this child was either ritual murder or organ harvest, and the fact that the parents didn't attend the funeral is telling. It certainly wasn't a random psychotic episode. This guy isn't crazy, he's just weird, but then again, so is the entire twisted interbred community. Since they're protected by Jewish political NY, what goes on in the Orthodox Community stays in the Orthodox Community; we have no idea how many murders have occurred there.

allbiggotsgotohell

wow you all are a bunch of disgusting biggots - guess that why you live on message boards instead of showing your fucked up faces in the real world.

SophiaM

Suspicious of
the entire thing! Parents and community included . . .

1. 8 year old
walking home alone, not even with a group of other 8 year olds, just alone,
practice run or not, this isn’t Wyoming 1955, in Brooklyn you at least have to
worry about how ur kids cross the street with these drivers if not crazy
killers

2. One of the parents
worked less than 5 blocks away or something, when he went missing why didn't
she immediately go looking for him on his first day walking home alone?

3. i get that they might not be into the whole cell phone revolution, so an 8 year old walking home totally alone? No back up plan for it he gets lost?

4. if the
community is so tight knitted over there why wasn't he guided by residences who
should have known him? Oh he’s alone let me point him in the direction of his
house? No? To busy?

I'm sick this
happened but it makes no sense to me how things just fell into place for this
guy to kill this baby! Im creeped out at the story and was sick to my stomach when i saw the sercurity tapes. :(
IJDK :(

Synonymous

He might be the only person in the universe whiter than I am.

robingee

I thought I read yesterday that the parents were just not telling his sisters about the way he died.

Jennifer Cardigan

Regardless of the rest, I applaud the person who went around banging on doors and demanding surveillance footage. That's what found the murderer so quickly. (Unfortunately, it wasn't quickly enough.)

Matt F.

What really angered me when it comes to reactions like this is they kept talking about supporting the Jews... like people of other faiths haven't had their kids kidnapped and dismembered. John Walsh would like a word.

The quote was: "We must gather our strength and see what we can do for other Jews. We have to show love and give to others," Kletzky said.

Guess what folks: Evil and sickness doesn't see a religion. Some people are just born wired wrong.

SophiaM

Oh and something like they're SHOCKED it was one of their own? so if it were a Black or an Asian or a Catholic they'd understand that they're all killers becaue they're not Jewish?

phishstx

So if you were shocked that someone in your family murdered another, would that mean you think all people not related to you are killers?

Didn't think so... your logic is pathetic. Shock at an event within an insular community doesn't speak to that community's beliefs about people outside of it.

assieg

you're right, this wasnt a Jewish tragedy, it was a human one. and all children need to be protected.

jfu222

Exactly why I dropped out of hebrew school ...even at 12 1/2 it was easy to see that religous orgs have nothing to due with faith. That said, there are many people of faith that I highly respect and certainly are wonderful people because of their devotion... just the ones that think their team is the only team... idots. Poor kid.

power point

"Exactly why I dropped out of hebrew school ...even at 12 1/2 it was easy to see that religous orgs have nothing to due with faith."

Yes, you were so well-read, intelligent and experienced at 12 1/2, that was certainly the right age to be making decisions that would affect the rest of your life...

Nestor Delgado

No 'John'. It's like the Ally Bank commercial where the guy tries to con a kid. Even kids know it's wrong to be conned. That's what jfu222 is saying. You certainly know how to twist things. It's a shame this needs to be explained to you.

william carey

I don't understand, Nestor. Honestly, not being snarky, but I don't understand the connection between what is clearly a politically motivated act of terrorism, and a complete whacko killing a little boy, who is a member of his community. Motivation?