A Pennsylvania resident, Kabary Salem, 57, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for the brutal murder of his daughter, Ola Salem, 25. The verdict was delivered by Judge Bradford Charles of the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas, following Salem’s conviction in October for first-degree murder. The crime took place in Palmyra, a small town approximately 92 miles northwest of Philadelphia, in October 2019.
Salem was found guilty of strangling and beating his daughter to death before disposing of her body in a park in Staten Island, New York City. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday expressed his disgust at the crime, stating that a father’s role is to love and protect his child. He added that while the life sentence would not bring Ola back, it would serve as a measure of justice and accountability.
Ola Salem’s body was discovered on October 24, 2019, partially concealed by branches and leaves in Bloomingdale Park. The medical examiner’s report revealed that she had died from asphyxiation and had suffered blunt force trauma, as evidenced by bruises on her face, neck, and legs.
Kabary Salem, a former Olympic boxer for Egypt, had a son who followed in his footsteps. Ola Salem had also considered boxing but chose instead to dedicate her life to advocating for victims of domestic violence. Friends remembered her as a strong woman, expressing disbelief that anyone could have overpowered her.
The prosecution’s case against Kabary Salem relied heavily on surveillance footage and GPS data. On the night of the murder, Salem was seen driving a rental car, first to his restaurant, then to a nearby hotel. Surveillance footage showed two people in the car upon arrival at the hotel. Later, Salem was seen alone at a Lowe’s home improvement store, purchasing a blue Kobalt shovel.
The rental car was seen moving again early the next morning, arriving at the park around 4:40 a.m. By 4:59 a.m., Salem was seen leaving Staten Island and heading back to Palmyra. He returned the rental car in New Jersey later that day and voluntarily interviewed by the NYPD. He left the country shortly after and was found in Kuwait a year later, from where he was extradited.
Physical evidence also played a crucial role in the case. Kabary Salem’s DNA was found under his daughter’s fingernails, suggesting she had fought back. A blue Kobalt shovel, similar to the one Salem was seen purchasing, was found near where Ola Salem’s body was discovered.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Kabary Salem maintained his innocence during the sentencing hearing. He accused the police of lying about his case. However, Judge Charles dismissed his claims, stating that the jury’s verdict was based on substantial evidence.