A father was arrested on a charge of murder after stabbing his young daughter in front of police officers because she did not want to live with her custodian any longer, according to police in North Carolina.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said that they have arrested 36-year-old Seth Pickering, after killing his daughter, 6-year-old Lila, near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
According to the police investigation, Pickering split up with his wife Ashley, after which he had custody of his daughter.
Pickering then lost temporary custody of his daughter, following a physical dispute he had with a woman. He was given supervised visitation.
On Friday, around 5:30 p.m., Pickering arrived at the home of his daughter’s custodian for visitation, but he took his daughter to his car.
The custodian warned him not to leave with the girl, but Pickering drove off.
Her took the girl to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where he stopped on the shoulder of the road and went down a steep hill.
He and his daughter built a campfire. Two police officers showed up and asked him what he was doing. Pickering pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed his daughter in the chest.
She died as result of the wound.
When asked why he did it, Pickering said that his daughter made him promise that he will not allow anyone to take her away again, and he did not want to hear his daughter cry herself to sleep.
He also told police that his daughter is happier now.