An Indiana man, Zachary Arnold, 41, is facing murder charges following the death of his 5-year-old daughter, Zara Arnold. The father initially reported to 911 that his daughter had fallen down the stairs and was unresponsive. However, subsequent investigations revealed that the child had allegedly been subjected to physical abuse and strangulation during a dispute with his former partner. Arnold reportedly blamed his ex-girlfriend for his actions, according to court records.
The incident occurred in Arnold’s east Indianapolis home on Monday morning. Upon arrival at the scene around 11 a.m., authorities pronounced Zara dead. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department reported signs of trauma on the child’s body.
In a public statement, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey expressed his sorrow over the tragic incident. He emphasized that no child should endure such harm, particularly in their own home, which should be a safe haven.
Court documents, as reported by local CW affiliate WISH and NBC affiliate WTHR, reveal that Arnold had been in a heated argument with his ex-girlfriend in the days leading up to the tragic incident. Arnold allegedly vented his anger on Zara, accusing her of not following his rules. His ex-girlfriend told police that Arnold had threatened to harm, and even kill, the child.
Arnold later confessed to the police that his initial report of Zara falling down the stairs was false, according to WTHR. He admitted to choking the child, who subsequently questioned why he had hurt her and professed her love for him. Arnold reportedly expressed regret for not checking on his daughter after the incident, attributing his negligence to his anger towards his ex-girlfriend.
On the morning of the incident, Arnold sent his ex-girlfriend text messages containing images of Zara “foaming at the mouth,” along with statements implying he had killed her, as per police reports. Zara’s grandmother, O’Tonya Glasco, told investigators that Arnold was known to use drugs in the child’s presence and deprive her of food. He was also accused of physically abusing the child.
WTHR obtained documents indicating multiple reports filed with the Indiana Department of Child Services regarding Arnold’s alleged abuse. One report accused him of using methamphetamine in front of Zara, while another, filed by the child’s mother, claimed that Zara had bruises and hand marks on her back.
A spokesperson for the Department of Child Services described the situation as tragic and expressed concern for the first responders and DCS team members who were first on the scene. The spokesperson affirmed the department’s commitment to working with law enforcement in such cases.