UPDATE: Levi Aron, the notorious killer of 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky, has died in custody at the age of 49. New York state officials confirmed his passing shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at a hospital near Wende Correctional Facility in Erie County, where he had been transferred on August 23 due to a “medical condition.”
The news comes as a shock to many, as Aron was serving a 40-year-to-life sentence for the brutal kidnapping and murder that horrified the Brooklyn community and drew national outrage. The crime, which took place in 2011, involved the abduction of young Leiby as he walked home alone for the first time in the Borough Park neighborhood.
In a chilling confession, Aron detailed how he abducted Leiby just blocks from his home, drove him to a wedding in Rockland County, and only became aware of the massive search effort when he returned. “I went for a towel to smother him in the side room,” Aron told detectives, describing how he panicked and ultimately murdered the child. The community was left in mourning and outrage as volunteers had spent days searching for the missing boy.
Leiby’s father, Nachman Kletzky, declined to comment on Aron’s death when reached for a statement. The family had previously filed a civil suit seeking $100 million in punitive damages against Aron and his father, describing the killer’s actions as “utterly reckless, malicious, and wanton.”
Correction officials have stated that Aron’s family has requested an autopsy, but details regarding his medical issues remain undisclosed. The brutality of the crime and the emotional impact on the community serve as a stark reminder of the case that shook New York to its core.
As authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Aron’s death, the community remains deeply affected by the loss of a young life and the haunting memories of that tragic summer day in 2011. Developments regarding the autopsy and potential further responses from the Kletzky family are anticipated in the coming days.
