This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
On Wednesday night, police found a family of three dead behind their apartment door in Harlem, New York. The victims were identified as Yonathan Tedla, 46, his wife Jennifer Schlecht, 42, and their 5-year-old daughter Abnysh.
According to police, Yonathan Tedla was found hanging in one bedroom, while his wife Jennifer Schlecht was found in the bathroom with her throat slit. Their daughter Abnysh was found dead in another bedroom with her throat cut.
Police officials believe that Yonathan Tedla was responsible for all three deaths. The couple was in the middle of a divorce proceeding, and Jennifer Schlecht had expressed fear for her and her child's safety in a telephone call to her parents just days before the tragedy.
Abnysh's grandfather, Kenneth Schlecht, said that his daughter had been planning to serve Yonathan Tedla with divorce papers and an order of protection. However, Yonathan Tedla had refused to leave the family home, and Jennifer Schlecht had been unable to change the locks.
Despite the family's inner turmoil, neighbors reported that Yonathan Tedla seemed to be a loving father and was often seen in the neighborhood with his daughter.
As the news of the tragedy spread, neighbors were left stunned and heartbroken. 'How could he!' said Jane Chancellor, a neighbor who had spoken to Yonathan Tedla just days before the tragedy.
