Father charged with murder after 7-year-old girl found dead
NEW ROCHELLE, New York -- The father of a 7-year-old girl in New Rochelle has been charged in her death.
Neil White, 47, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, New Rochelle police announced Wednesday.
Officers were called to their home on Arbor Glen at around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday following reports that a man was bleeding from his wrists.
Gabrielle White was found dead in a bed inside the home by a nanny.
Police said they believe she was suffocated, but the cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner's office.
Eyewitness News spoke exclusively with the child's babysitter, Tonelle Mahon.
She said she adored the second grader but knew something was wrong when she got a text from White Tuesday saying Gabrielle wasn't feeling well and was staying home from school.
She thought it was odd because the girl's mother hadn't called her.
Mahon went to the home, where she found that the blinds were closed and it was dark. She called out for Neil White and Gabrielle but at first no one answered.
When she looked into the girl's room, she noticed the blankets were messed up. Then she saw White standing there and asked him about Gabrielle.
Mahon said White told her, "Oh she's in her room resting".
Neil White was taken to a local hospital for treatment of cuts to his wrists.
Police said there were no signs of a struggle, and they do not know when Gabrielle was killed. Mahon said the last time she saw her was Monday night at about 8.
Gabrielle's mother does not live in the home. The girl's parents had joint custody.
White pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. His next court date is June 15.
If convicted, White faces 25 years to life in prison.
A representative for Gabrielle's mom and family released the following statement.
"No words could sum up all that Gabrielle meant to us but she was our light. We are broken and devastated that our sweet little girl is gone but we're thankful that we had seven wonderful years with her. While we begin to mourn privately, we thank those friends, colleagues, neighbors and strangers for the tremendous support that we've already received. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request donations be made online at the hordfoundation.org, P.O. Box 4671 Danbury, CT 06813."
A gofundme page has also been established with donations going to the Hord Foundation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Rochelle Police Department's General Investigations Unit at 914-654-2270.
