Dad Killed 3-Week-Old Daughter with Crossbow, Hid Wife's Phone So She Couldn't Call Police

A New York State man will spend 25 years behind bars for the 2023 murder of his infant daughter, whom he killed using a crossbow. 

Patrick D. Proefriedt pleaded guilty to second degree murder on Feb. 28, nearly two years after he killed 3-week-old daughter Eleanor Carey and injured his wife in a Colesville, N.Y. home, the Broome County District Attorney’s Office said last week. 

Authorities did not name his wife, the child’s mother, but she has been identified by WBNG and Press Connects as Megan Carey.   

Officers responded to a report of a shooting at the Colesville residence on June 26, 2023, and found Proefriedt had shot both Eleanor and Megan using a crossbow, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office said at the time.

Investigators learned Proefriedt had gotten into an argument with Megan when he shot a crossbow at her as she held Eleanor in her lap, per the statement. 

The broadhead crossbow bolt pierced into Eleanor’s upper torso through her armpit before hitting Megan in the chest, the sheriff’s office said. 

Proefriedt then removed the bolt and tried to prevent Megan from calling police. 

He then grabbed Megan’s phone and hid it in another room before fleeing the scene, Press Connects reported. He sped off in the only vehicle that Megan could have used to seek help, the outlet reported. 

Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said at a press conference last week that Proefriedt “ran into the woods and hid like a scared rat,” WBNG reported. 

Eleanor died in the attack and Megan sustained non-life-threatening injuries. 

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At the time of the murder, Proefriedt “had a history of domestic incidents with the victim and an active Stay Away Order of Protection in place,” the Broome County Sheriff’s Office previously said.

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On Thursday, June 27, a recording of Megan’s 911 call was played in court, where she was heard begging Eleanor to hold on for dear life, according to Press Connect. 

She is heard saying “stay with Mommy” and “please don’t die” to the child. 

“Everywhere I look, I see you [Eleanor] – a part of you in almost everyone,” Megan said in court, per the outlet. “I can’t express how much I miss and love you.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.