On Monday morning, Patrick D. Proefriedt, 26, got into an altercation with his wife inside their home in Town of Colesville, leading him to fire a broadhead crossbow bolt that struck the couple’s three-week-old daughter in the upper torso and then his wife in the chest.
Proefriedt then tried to remove the bolt before attempting to stop his wife from calling the police. He fled the scene in a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup truck, and the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and Chenango County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene.
Emergency responders attempted to save the infant, Eleanor M. Carey, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Proefriedt’s wife was taken to a hospital for treatment of her injuries. The police used aerial drones to find Proefriedt, who was hiding in the woods near his home, and he was then taken into custody.
Proefriedt is being charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and first-degree criminal contempt for allegedly violating an order of protection.
Sheriff Fred Akshar said of the incident, “This is one of the most heartbreaking and senseless crimes committed in this community in recent memory. Our thoughts are with the family of this innocent 3-week-old girl, Eleanor Carey.” The police investigation is ongoing.