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

Colesville, New York — In an unthinkable act of violence, 26‑year‑old Patrick D. Proefriedt was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for fatally shooting his three-week-old daughter, Eleanor Carey, with a crossbow during a domestic argument in June 2023.

Shortly after 5 a.m. on June 26, 2023, Broome County sheriff’s deputies and emergency responders raced to a home in Colesville where a 911 call had reported a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Patrick’s companion, Megan Carey, and her infant daughter severely injured. Megan held Eleanor in her arms as the crossbow bolt pierced the newborn’s torso and exited near her armpit before also striking Megan in the chest.

Authorities say a domestic dispute escalated when Proefriedt fired a broadhead bolt while Megan cradled their daughter. He then removed the bolt from both victims, hid Megan’s phone to prevent her from calling 911, and fled the home in a red Dodge Ram pickup truck—a vehicle his partner could have used to seek help.

“He ran into the woods and hid like a scared rat,” said Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar at a press conference.

Despite emergency efforts, Eleanor was pronounced dead at the scene. Megan was rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies—joined by the New York State Police and Chenango County Sheriff’s Office—used drones to track Proefriedt about a mile from the home. His truck was found stuck in mud, and he was apprehended hiding nearby.

Proefriedt was initially charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder, and criminal contempt for violating a restraining order that was already in effect at the time . On February 28, 2025, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 25‑year prison sentence.

Sheriff Akshar called the case “one of the most heartbreaking and senseless crimes committed in this community in recent memory,” offering condolences to the devastated family. A recording of Megan’s 911 call was played in court, capturing heartbreaking pleas like “stay with Mommy… please don’t die,” as she desperately tried to save her daughter.

Public reaction on social media, particularly Reddit, highlighted both grief and frustration at systemic failures to protect victims of domestic abuse. One user commented: “This woman did everything right… but it wasn’t murder yet so it’s all fine and dandy right!? Fuck cops protecting violent men.”

The community remains shaken. Victims’ advocates and online commentators are calling for stricter enforcement of protective orders, better monitoring of domestic abusers, and treating early domestic incidents with greater urgency.

A local counselor noted that non-lethal weapons like crossbows are often overlooked in protection protocols, allowing prohibited individuals to exploit loopholes.

The loss of baby Eleanor serves as a grim reminder of how domestic violence can escalate with devastating speed when warning signs are ignored. Proefriedt’s lengthy prison sentence may bring legal closure, but the emotional scars on Megan and the larger community will endure—a silent call for systemic change.