Killer Dies Behind Bars
Convicted Killer Levi Aron Dies in Prison, 14 Years After He Murdered Leiby Kletzky
Levi Aron, the man convicted of the 2011 kidnapping and murder of eight-year-old Leiby Kletzky, has died at 49 while serving a 40-to-life sentence in New York. State officials confirmed he had been hospitalized for months with an undisclosed medical condition.
Levi Aron, the man convicted of the horrific 2011 kidnapping and murder of eight-year-old Leiby Kletzky of Borough Park, died last weekend at a hospital near the Wende Correctional Facility in New York State. He was 49.
New York State corrections officials confirmed his death, noting that Aron had been moved to a hospital several months ago due to an unspecified “medical condition,” suggesting a serious or prolonged illness.
Aron was serving a sentence of 40 years to life for one of the most notorious crimes to ever strike the American Jewish community. The murder traumatized Orthodox communities in the U.S. and far beyond.
The crime occurred in the summer of 2011, when Leiby walked home alone from school for the first time. Aron, who also lived in Borough Park, abducted him after offering a ride. He later told investigators that he panicked upon seeing the extensive search efforts and, instead of returning the child, killed him. Parts of Leiby’s body were found in a dumpster in Park Slope, while others were discovered in Aron’s apartment refrigerator, details that shocked even veteran investigators.
The boy’s disappearance triggered an unprecedented community-wide search, with hundreds of Orthodox volunteers joining police in a race against time. Within hours, the name “Leiby” became known in Jewish communities worldwide, as synagogues held prayers for his safe return.
Aron attempted an insanity defense, but prosecutors emphasized the deliberate nature of his actions. He ultimately pleaded guilty as part of an agreement ensuring he would spend the rest of his life in prison. Due to fears he would be attacked by other inmates (because child murderers are often targeted) he was held in protective custody.
Rabbi Nachman Kletzky, Leiby’s father, declined to comment on the report of Aron’s death. His silence, 14 years after the tragedy, reflects a grief that has never healed.