A dad sent his girlfriend horrifying photos of their daughter before choking the child to death over FaceTime, according to police.
Zachary Arnold, 41, at first claimed five-year-old Zara had fallen down stairs when he reported to officers she was not breathing. Paramedics in Indianapolis, US, found the youngster cold and covered in bruises, with ligature marks on her neck. The father quickly changed his story when quizzed by detectives, allegedly admitting to strangling his little daughter while he was arguing with his girlfriend – although she did not call police at the time as she was afraid of him.
Court documents claimed Arnold sent his partner horror pictures of little Zara foaming at the mouth before calling her on FaceTime, forcing her to watch him choke the girl.
His now ex-partner told Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) how he was “was going to kill her”, but then stated he would “hurt her” instead.
Arnold told officers he did not look in on his daughter after choking her, despite “always going back to check” after hurting her. Detectives wrote: “Zachary said (his girlfriend) did this to him and is making him out to be a monster.”
Arnold was awarded custody of Zara despite having a history of abuse and the last time her mother saw the little girl was eight days before her death, at a Wendy’s restaurant. When Zara tried to run to her mother Arnold grabbed her by the neck and left, as she called police who had “no success” finding him.
IMPD chief Chris Bailey said on social media: “I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of five-year-old Zara. No child should suffer such harm, especially in a place that should be safe: their home.
“Thank you to our detectives for their quick and thorough work in making an arrest in this tragic case.”
The Department of Child Services said: “This is a tragic situation, we are also thinking of the first responders and DCS team members who initially arrived at the scene.
“As with any child fatality, we continue to partner with law enforcement.”
Zara’s grandmother O’Tonya Glasco told Fox59 : “I’m mad. I’m very disappointed, because my granddaughter should be here.
“She should have never been with him from the get go. They should have never given him custody. This has been an ongoing thing since she was born.
“The system done failed us. The system failed us.”
The suspect is now being held without bond pending the filing of charges.
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