Murder of Leiby Kletzky

Yehudah Kletzky, known as "Leiby", was the third of six children and only son of Nachman Kletzky and Esti Forster Kletzky, Boyaner Hasidim and residents of Borough Park."Leiby Kletzky, z"l". Hamodia American News, 21 July 2011, p. B26.{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/49093 |title=Leiby Kletzky (2002–2011) |last=Tannenbaum |first=Rabbi Gershon |work=The Jewish Press |date=20 July 2011 |access-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812062551/https://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/49093 |archive-date=August 12, 2011 }} He was reported missing late Monday afternoon while walking home from a day camp held at his school, Yeshiva Boyan Tiferes Mordechai Shlomo.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/nyregion/borough-park-residents-reeling-with-news-of-boys-death.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=leiby%20kletzky&st=cse |title=After Coming Together for a Frantic Search, a Community Is Left Reeling |work=The New York Times |last=Robbins |first=Liz |date=13 July 2011 |access-date=14 July 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-naw-boy-in-refrigerator-20110713,0,3090581.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714015952/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-naw-boy-in-refrigerator-20110713,0,3090581.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2011 |title=Boy's remains found in refrigerator; New York man in custody

|agency=Associated Press |date=13 July 2011 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=14 July 2011}} Kletzky had begged his parents to let him walk home from the camp instead of taking the school bus. It was the first time that his parents allowed him to walk alone and they had practiced the route the day before; his mother waited for him at a predetermined point a few blocks away at 50th Street and 13th Avenue. The boy missed a turn upon leaving camp and headed in the wrong direction.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304911104576444400698099640?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=Case Prompts Parents to Ask: How Old Is Old Enough? |date=14 July 2011 |last=Reddi |first=Sumathi |access-date=14 July 2011 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}

Kletzky's mother called the Brooklyn South Shomrim volunteer civilian patrol to report a missing child at 6:14 p.m. Brooklyn South Shomrim, which says it receives 10 calls of missing children per day,{{cite web |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/in-hasidic-areas-first-call-for-help-isnt-to-911/?scp=8&sq=kletzky%20video&st=cse |title=For Hasidim, First Call for Help Often Isn't to 911

|date=15 July 2011 |access-date=17 July 2011 |work=The New York Times |last=Kilgannon |first=Corey}} immediately checked candy stores, other shops, and homes of friends and relatives where the boy might have gone. By 8:30 p.m., Shomrim contacted the New York City Police Department, which declared a Level 1 search. The police search involved canine units, mounted police, and helicopters. On Tuesday morning, Brooklyn South Shomrim, together with Shomrim organizations in Crown Heights, Flatbush, and Williamsburg made an all-out call for volunteers to join the search. Five thousand Orthodox Jewish volunteers from the local community and from as far away as the tri-state area, joined in a block-by-block search.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/leibykletzkymissingposter.jpg |title=Missing Child Alert |publisher=New York Police Department |access-date=14 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928104847/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/leibykletzkymissingposter.jpg |archive-date=September 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/07/17/a-look-inside-brooklyns-shomrim-patrol/ |title=A Look Inside Brooklyn's Shomrim Patrol|date=17 July 2011 |access-date=18 July 2011 |publisher=CBS New York}} Bangladeshi residents of nearby Kensington also joined the search.{{cite web |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-09/news/31043450_1_bangladeshis-anti-muslim-graffiti-allah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012010823/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-09/news/31043450_1_bangladeshis-anti-muslim-graffiti-allah |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |title=Anti Muslim graffiti insulting Allah scrawled on Kensington insurance shop |first=Simone |last=Weichselbaum |work=New York Daily News |date=9 February 2012 |access-date=3 March 2012}} State Assemblyman Dov Hikind posted a $5,000 reward for information leading to the return of the child, which was eventually upped to $100,000 by members of the community.

Meanwhile, Yaakov German, a Bobover Hasid and father of Kletzky's yeshiva rebbi, went door-to-door on Tuesday morning with his son to examine videos from surveillance cameras posted in stores and offices along the boy's route. The videos showed that after leaving his school at 1205 44th Street, between 12th and 13th Avenues, at about 5:05 p.m., Kletzky missed his turn at 13th Avenue and continued up 44th Street.{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/07/15/2011-07-15_i_just_cant_stand_to_see_something_like_this_happening_in_our_community_how_his_.html |title=Amateur sleuth Yaakov German helps cops catch Levi Aron and solve murder of Leiby Kletzky

|work=New York Daily News |date=15 July 2011 |access-date=17 July 2011 |last=Paddock |first=Barry}} Other videos showed the boy walking by Shomrim Locksmith at 44th Street and 15th Avenue, and then along 44th Street at 17th Avenue. On 18th Avenue, the boy was seen talking to a man who then crossed the street and entered a dentist's office. When the man came out, Kletzky followed him and appeared to get into his car.

After examining the videos, police located the dentist, who alerted his receptionist, the wife of community political operative Simcha Eichenstein.Shaer, Matthew (December 4, 2011) [https://www.nymag.com/news/features/levi-aron-2011-12/index4.html "A Monster Among the 'Frum'"], New York Magazine. "[Simcha] Eichenstein’s wife, Herbst knew, worked for Sorscher as a receptionist. Elbowing Bernstein out of the way, Herbst uploaded a clip of the bearded man and sent it to Eichenstein. Eichenstein sent it to his wife, at home with her small children. “Of course,” she told her husband. She couldn’t remember the man’s name, but she was sure she had seen him. “He came in to pay a bill. He was the last one in the office." She gave them the name and address of the suspect who had come in to pay his bill that day. After midnight on Tuesday, police also managed to identify the car in the surveillance video as a 1990 gold Honda Accord.{{cite web |url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-American-cop-cracked-murder-of-8-year-old-Brooklyn-boy-Leiby-Kletzky-126055488.html |title=Irish American cop cracked murder of 8-year-old Brooklyn boy Leiby Kletzky

|last=Hayes |first=Cathy |work=Irish Central|date=23 July 2011 |access-date=23 July 2011}} Forty-five minutes later, two Flatbush volunteers searching for the missing boy in Kensington spotted the car and sent in the license plate number, which matched Aron's details. Police went to the suspect's apartment in Kensington around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning. They arrived to an open door, and when they asked Aron where the boy was, he allegedly nodded toward the kitchen, where the police found blood-soaked carving knives and bloody towels in bags.{{cite web |url=http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/97357/NYPD%3A-Leiby-Kletzky-Had-Gotten-Lost-%26-Asked-Suspect-For-Help.html |title=NYPD: Leiby Kletzky Had Gotten Lost & Asked Suspect For Help

|date=13 July 2011 |access-date=13 July 2011 |work=Yeshiva World News}} The boy's severed feet were found in the freezer.{{cite web |title=Brooklyn, NY – NYPD: Man Implicated Self; No Relation To Family |work=Vosizneias |url=http://www.vosizneias.com/87349 |date=13 July 2011 |access-date=13 July 2011}} The suspect told police where to find the rest of the remains: in a red suitcase{{cite news |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/07/leiby_kletzkys.php |title=8-year-old Brooklyn boy is killed and dismembered; Orthodox Jewish neighborhood is shocked |agency=Associated Press |date=13 July 2011 |access-date=14 July 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} thrown in a dumpster on 20th Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues.{{cite web |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/boys-body-found-suspect-being-questioned/ |title=Missing Boy's Dismembered Body Found; Suspect Says He Panicked |date=13 July 2011 |access-date=13 July 2011 |work=The New York Times |last1=Baker |first1=Al |last2=Robbins |first2=Liz |last3=Goldstein |first3=Joseph}} Aron was taken into police custody at 2:40 a.m. Wednesday morning.

According to a 450-word handwritten statement in which he confessed to killing the boy, Aron claimed that Kletzky had asked him for directions and accepted a ride, saying he wanted to be dropped off at a bookstore. Aron suggested that they drive together to a wedding in Monsey, New York; they returned around 11:20 p.m. Aron claimed that he planned to return the boy to his family on Tuesday, but when he saw the missing child posters the next day, he said he "panicked", returned to the apartment, and smothered the boy with a towel. Then he dismembered the body and stuffed it into bags, which he placed in a suitcase and left in a dumpster in another neighborhood.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nyc-boy-spent-hours-with-suspect-before-murder/ |title=NYC boy spent hours with suspect before murder |date=14 July 2011 |access-date=14 July 2011 |publisher=CBS News}}

A video from the security camera at the Ateres Charna wedding hall in Rockland County confirmed that Aron was at the wedding, but no sign is seen of Kletzky.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304521304576446433004865952 |title=Suspect Recounts Time With Child |last1=Gardiner |first1=Sean |last2=Hollander |first2=Sophia |date=15 July 2011 |access-date=1 August 2011 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} A color surveillance video taken later that night at a Sunoco gas station on the Palisades Interstate Parkway showed Aron and Kletzky getting out of Aron's car and going into the bathroom. The video was time-stamped 8:15 p.m.{{cite web |url=http://matzav.com/the-palisades-gas-station-attendant-who-saw-leiby |title=The Palisades Gas Station Attendant Who Saw Leiby |date=21 July 2011 |access-date=1 August 2011 |publisher=matzav.com}}

There was no evidence that the victim had been sexually abused. Aron was unknown to Kletzky before meeting the boy on the street.

Kletzky's funeral, held on Wednesday in the parking lot of a Boro Park synagogue was attended by thousands of Orthodox Jews, many of whom traveled from throughout the Tri-State area to attend.{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/07/thousands-mourn-brooklyns-leiby-kletzky-8 |title=Thousands Mourn Brooklyn's Leiby Kletzky, 8 |last=Katz |first=Celeste |date=14 July 2011 |access-date=14 July 2011 |work=New York Daily News}} Attendance was estimated at 8,000 by the Shomrim civilian patrol, and 10,000 by Arutz Sheva.{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/145702 |title=10,000 Attend Funeral of 9-Yr-Old Leiby Kletzky in Boro Park |last=Sidman |first=Fern |date=14 July 2011 |access-date=14 July 2011 |publisher=Arutz Sheva}}

Levi Aron is an Orthodox Jew who grew up in Brooklyn. His father, Jack, works at the Hasidic-owned B&H Photo in Brooklyn; his mother, Basya, died five or six years previously. Aron lived in the attic apartment of his parents' three-family home on the corner of Avenue C and East 2nd Street in the Kensington neighborhood. He was married twice; in 2004 he married Diana Diunov, an Israeli woman, and in 2007 he married Deborah M. Parnell of Tennessee, a divorced mother of two whom he had met online and with whom he moved to Memphis, where he worked as a security guard. Both marriages ended in divorce.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/nyregion/suspect-pleads-not-guilty-in-leiby-kletzkys-death-and-offers-account.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=nyregion |title=Police Sort Through Suspect's Account as He Pleads Not Guilty in Killing |last1=Barron |first1=James |last2=Baker |first2=Al |work=The New York Times |date=14 July 2011 |access-date=18 July 2011}}

Aron worked as a clerk at a hardware-supply company in Brooklyn. He was described by his coworkers as quiet and socially awkward.{{cite web |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/07/13/co-workers-suspect-in-leiby-kletzky-murder-acted-normal-during-investigation/ |title=Acquaintances: Suspect In Leiby Kletzky Murder Showed No Warning Signs |date=13 July 2011 |access-date=15 July 2011 |publisher=CBS New York}} Aron had injured his head when he was hit by a car while riding his bike at the age of 9 and suffered problems stemming from that accident. It is believed that this caused extreme shyness and neurotic behaviors with Aron in later life. He had no prior arrest record. He had been served with an Order of Protection in January 2007, and had received a fine for a seat belt violation and one speeding ticket. In Brooklyn, authorities cited a summons for public urination.{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/145716 |title=Who is Levi Aron, Accused Killer of Leiby Kletzky? |date=14 July 2011 |last=Ya'ar |first=Chana |publisher=Arutz Sheva |access-date=14 July 2011}}

Aron appeared in Brooklyn Criminal Court on July 14, 2011, and pleaded not guilty. At the hearing, his lawyer stated that Aron "suffers from hallucinations" and "hears voices". The court ordered Aron to be sent to the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital Center for a psychiatric evaluation.{{cite web |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/breaking_news/kletzky_murder_suspect_bellevue_psychiatric_tests |title=Kletzky Murder Suspect In Bellevue For Psychiatric Tests |last=Magnus |first=Cynthia |date=15 July 2011 |access-date=17 July 2011 |work=Jewish Week}}

After Aron had been hospitalized, his lawyers stated that he was "seeking to quiet the voices in his head by listening to music". They also described his demeanor as "abnormal".{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/125761373.html |title=Accused Killer Quiets Voices in Head With Music, Lawyers Say |first1=Jonathan |last1=Dienst |first2=Shimon |last2=Prokupecz |date=18 July 2011 |access-date=18 July 2011 |publisher=NBC}}

In December 2011, another of Aron's attorneys, Howard Greenberg, sparked outrage when he remarked of his client, "Look, everybody knows when blood relations have offspring, there can be genetic defects... There's inbreeding in that community" – the latter referring to the Hasidic Jewish community of New York City.{{cite web |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/inbred_outrage_94xSKANEEIE5BmhY4Z1rCJ|title='Inbred' Outrage |first=Jose|last=Martinez|work=New York Post|date=22 December 2011|access-date=7 September 2013}}

On July 20, 2011, the office of the New York City medical examiner released autopsy results revealing that Kletzky had ingested a lethal mix of four different drugs and had then been smothered. The cause of death was determined to be intoxication from a combination of cyclobenzaprine (a muscle relaxant), quetiapine (an antipsychotic), and hydrocodone and acetaminophen (two analgesics), followed by smothering. Upon release of the autopsy results, the case was officially ruled a homicide.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/07/20/general-us-missing-boy_8575270.html |title=Kidnapped NYC boy was given drugs, then smothered |agency=Associated Press |magazine=Forbes |date=20 July 2011 |access-date=20 July 2011}}{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

On August 9, 2011, the New York City medical examiner's office revealed that Kletzky had ingested a fifth drug, Duloxetine, which is used for generalized anxiety disorder and as an antidepressant. The blood tests revealing this drug took a few weeks to process at an outside lab.{{cite web |url=http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/99555/EXCLUSIVE%3A-Blood-Tests-Reveal-5th-Drug-Was-Given-To-Leiby-Kletzy-Before-Being-Killed.html |title=EXCLUSIVE: Blood Tests Reveal 5th Drug Was Given To Leiby Kletzy Before Being Killed |date=9 August 2011 |access-date=18 August 2011 |work=Yeshiva World News}}

Hours after the autopsy results were released on July 20, a Brooklyn grand jury indicted Aron on eight counts of murder and kidnapping – including two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, and one count of second-degree kidnapping{{cite web |url=http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/143295/leiby-kletzky-s-accused-killer-indicted-on-felony-murder-charges/ |title=Leiby Kletzky's Accused Killer Indicted on Felony Murder Charges |last=Anderson |first=Tetiana |work=NY1 |date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004191855/http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/143295/leiby-kletzky-s-accused-killer-indicted-on-felony-murder-charges/ |archive-date=October 4, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} – which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/nyregion/leiby-kletzky-was-drugged-before-being-suffocated-official-says.html |title=Brooklyn 8-Year-Old Was Drugged, Then Suffocated, Medical Examiner Says

|last1=Berger |first1=Joseph |last2=Baker |first2=Al |date=July 20, 2011 |work=The New York Times}}

A day after the indictment was handed down, one of Aron's lawyers, Gerard Marrone, resigned from the case, saying that he could not represent the defendant as "the allegations were too horrific". Attorney Jennifer McCann joined Pierre Bazile for the defense.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111903461104576462632375189412 |title=Defense Shifts in Kletzky Murder |date=23 July 2011 |access-date=23 July 2011 |last=Gardiner |first=Sean |work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite web |url=https://abc7ny.com/archive/8262876/ |title=Attorneys of suspect in Leiby Kletzky murder quits |date=22 July 2011 |access-date=24 July 2011 |publisher=WABC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925170318/http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fnew_york&id=8262876 |archive-date=September 25, 2011 |url-status=live }} The case was prosecuted by the Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney's Office. The lead prosecutor was veteran Assistant District Attorney Julie B. Rendelman of the Homicide Bureau. Rendelman was the attorney who successfully prosecuted Horace Moore for the stabbing murder of NYC bus driver Edwin Thomas.{{cite web |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/10/07/man-found-guilty-in-bus-drivers-stabbing-death/ |title=News Man Found Guilty In Bus Driver's Stabbing Death|date=7 October 2010 |access-date=24 July 2013 |publisher=WCBS}} Also assigned to the case was Assistant District Attorney Linda Weinman.

Aron was declared competent to stand trial in an arraignment at the New York State Supreme Court in Brooklyn on August 4, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/levi-aron-ruled-competent-for-trial-in-leiby-kletzky-murder/ |title=Levi Aron Called Fit for Trial in Leiby Kletzky Murder |last=Robbins |first=Liz |work=The New York Times |date=4 August 2011 |access-date=7 August 2011}}

Results of the psychiatric evaluation, obtained by Associated Press, indicate that Aron was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder. The suspect was said to be "confused and apathetic", with a "'practically blank' personality".{{cite web |url=http://www.macon.com/2011/08/10/1661250/ap-exclusive-child-slaying-suspect.html |title=AP Exclusive: Child-slaying suspect has disorder |last=Long |first=Colleen |date=10 August 2011 |access-date=12 August 2011 |agency=Associated Press }}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In addition, the psychologist apperceived him as reserved, apathetic, sad and cooperative, and diagnosed a schizoid personality disorder.{{cite web|title=Brooklyn slaying suspect has "schizoid" disorder|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brooklyn-slaying-suspect-has-schizoid-disorder/|work=CBS News|date=August 10, 2011 |access-date=10 August 2011}}{{cite book|title=Crime Classification Manual: A Standard System for Investigating and Classifying Violent Crime|date=2013|isbn=978-1118419847|last1=Douglas|first1=John E.|last2=Burgess|first2=Ann W.|last3=Burgess|first3=Allen G.|last4=Ressler|first4=Robert K.}}{{cite web|last=Coscarelli|first=Joe|title=Levi Aron Has a Personality Disorder|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2011/08/levi_aron_has_a_personality_di.html|work=NY Mag|date=August 11, 2011 |access-date=11 August 2011}} Details also emerged that Aron had a younger sister who died while institutionalized for schizophrenia.{{cite news |title=Clarification: Dismembered Boy story |agency=Associated Press |date=11 August 2011 }}

Aron was held at Rikers Island on round-the-clock suicide watch. He gave his first media interview to the New York Post on August 12, 2011. He did not refer to Kletzky by name, and kept referring to the smothering and dismembering of the boy as "the incident". He did not explain why he took and kept the boy, saying, "He looked familiar. I thought I knew him".{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/08/12/2011-08-12_butcher_talks_li_panicked_sez_killer_who_wont_apologize_licalls_leibys_brutal_sl.html |title=Leiby Kletzky killer Levi Aron won't apologize for brutal slaughter, calls murder 'the incident' |last=Blau |first=Reuven |date=12 August 2011 |access-date=12 August 2011 |work=New York Post}}

On August 23, 2011, the State Supreme Court justice assigned to the case, Justice Neil J. Firetog, chided Aron's lawyers in court for discussing the case on their Facebook pages, accused them of leaking the court-ordered psychological examination to the press, and questioned their ability to handle such a complex case given their lack of experience. Pierre Bazile, who passed the bar in 2007, had defended only one homicide case, while Jennifer McCann had defended six cases, three of them ending in acquittal.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/nyregion/judge-criticizes-levi-arons-defense-lawyers.html |title=Lawyers Defending Suspect in Boy's Death Are Scolded |last=Robbins |first=Liz |work=The New York Times |date=23 August 2011 |access-date=28 August 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/judge-questions-experience-of-defense-lawyers-in-nyc-case-of-dismembered-boy/2011/08/24/gIQA6hm8aJ_story.html |title=Judge questions experience of defense lawyers in NYC case of dismembered boy |agency=Associated Press |date=24 August 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=28 August 2011}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} A veteran criminal defense lawyer, Howard Greenberg, subsequently joined the defense team pro bono to offset the judge's criticism of lack of experience.{{cite web |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/veteran-lawyer-joins-defense-team-for-trial-in-killing-of-brooklyn-boy/ |last=Robbins |first=Liz |title=Veteran Lawyer Joins Defense Team in Leiby Kletzky Case |date=24 October 2011 |access-date=24 October 2011 |work=The New York Times}}

On October 24, 2011, Aron appeared at a brief hearing in the State Supreme Court via video conferencing. Outside the courtroom, his lawyers claimed that police forced Aron to write his 450-word confession, stating that he was not sane enough to be aware of his actions. They also told reporters that they were pursuing an insanity defense.{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/24/levi-arons-confession-in-_n_1028673.html |title=Levi Aron's Confession In Leiby Kletzky's Killing Was Coerced: Lawyers |last=Long |first=Colleen |date=24 October 2011 |access-date=24 October 2011 |work=Huffington Post}}{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crime-boy-idUSTRE79N7R420111024 |title=Brooklyn man accused of butchering boy to plead insanity |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |date=24 October 2011 |access-date=24 October 2011 |work=Reuters}}

In November 2011, the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court denied Aron's counsel's request to move the trial to Suffolk County or the Bronx in light of unfavorable media coverage in Brooklyn. Although he reported hearing voices in his head, Aron was declared fit to stand trial.{{cite news |url=http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/11/08/3090181/levi-aron-to-be-tried-in-brooklyn |title=Trial of Leiby Kletzky's Accused Killer Staying in Brooklyn |date=November 8, 2011 |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=The Forward |agency=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113050218/http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/11/08/3090181/levi-aron-to-be-tried-in-brooklyn |archive-date=November 13, 2011 |df=mdy-all }} In March 2012 Aron appeared in court via video conferencing while his attorneys scheduled a new trial date.{{cite web |last1= |first1= |author1-link=|title=Murder Suspect Levi Aron Back In Court |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdEf9VjVEb4 |website=youtube.com |publisher=News 12 Brooklyn |language=en |format=video |date=March 13, 2012|agency=JewishLife|access-date=February 28, 2025}} In May of that year, he appeared before the court again via video conferencing.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

On August 1, 2012, it was reported that prosecutors had struck a deal with the defense in which Aron would plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of at least 40 years to life in prison.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/nyregion/levi-aron-expected-to-plead-guilty-to-killing-leiby-kletzky.html | title=Guilty Plea Is Expected in the Killing of Brooklyn Boy, 8 |first=Mosi |last=Secret| work=The New York Times | date=August 1, 2012 |access-date=4 August 2012}} The Kletzky family supported this decision, wanting to avoid reliving the murder if the case went to trial.{{cite web |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012/08/09/brooklyn-man-sentenced-to-in-boys-murder/ |title=Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in Boy's Murder |first=Pervais |last=Shallwani |date=August 9, 2012 |access-date=August 9, 2012 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} On August 9, 2012, Aron changed his plea to guilty of one charge of second-degree murder and one charge of second-degree kidnapping at Brooklyn Supreme Court.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/nyregion/levi-aron-is-sentenced-to-40-years-in-killing-of-leiby-kletzky-8.html |title=Man Who Killed and Dismembered a Lost Boy, 8, Gets 40 Years to Life|first=C.J. |last=Hughes |date=29 August 2012 |access-date=2 September 2012 |work=The New York Times}} He answered a series of questions from the judge in which he admitted to killing Leiby Kletzky.{{cite web |url=https://abc7ny.com/archive/8767192/ |title=Levi Aron Pleads Guilty in Leiby Kletzky Murder |date=August 9, 2012 |access-date=August 9, 2012 |work=ABC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810073938/http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fnew_york&id=8767192 |archive-date=August 10, 2012 |url-status=live }} On August 29, 2012, Judge Neil Firetog sentenced Aron to 25 years to life on the second-degree murder charge and 15 years to life on the second-degree kidnapping charge.{{cite web |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/leiby_monster_put_away_B0fTdbXKL3RvWFtVpXv35K |title=Levi Aron sentenced to 40 years to life for murder of Orthodox Jewish boy Leiby Kletzky |first1=Josh |last1=Saul |first2=Antonio |last2=Antenucci |first3=Leonard |last3=Greene|work=New York Post |date=30 August 2012 |access-date=3 September 2012}} According to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's inmate lookup website, he will be eligible for parole on May 18, 2049.

On August 17, 2011, Nachman Kletzky filed a $100 million civil lawsuit against Aron in Brooklyn Supreme Court, seeking damages for the "abduction, kidnapping, torture, murder and dismemberment" of his son. On August 23, Kletzky filed a $100 million civil suit against Aron's father, Jack, for neglecting to monitor his son or protect Leiby while the latter was in his home.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904332804576538933681883412?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=Victim's Parents Sue Alleged Killer |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 30, 2011 |access-date=August 30, 2011 |last=Shallwani |first=Pervaiz}}{{cite web |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/slain-boys-father-sues-accused-killer-and-his-father/ |last=Robbins |first=Liz |work=The New York Times |date= August 29, 2011 |access-date=August 30, 2011 |title=Slain Boy's Father Sues Accused Killer and His Father}}

{{Anchor|Leiby's Initiative}}In the wake of the murder, State Assemblymen Dov Hikind and Peter Abbate and State Senator Diane Savino said they would introduce a bill called "Leiby's Initiative", which would grant a $500 annual tax credit to any New York City property owner who installs and maintains surveillance cameras on their property.{{cite web |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/07/15/lawmakers-propose-tax-credit-for-surveillance-camera-installation-after-brooklyn-tragedy/ |title='Leiby's Initiative': Lawmakers To Propose $500 Tax Credit For Surveillance Camera Installation |publisher=CBS New York |date=July 15, 2011 |access-date=July 17, 2011}}

{{Anchor|Leiby's Law}}New York City Councilman David Greenfield has said he would propose "Leiby's Law," a bill under which businesses could volunteer to be designated as safe places for children who are lost or otherwise in trouble. Employees would undergo background checks and business owners would put a green sticker in their store windows so children know it is a safe place to get help.{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/07/21/2011-07-21_leibys_law_would_provide_safe_places_for_children_who_are_lost_or_in_trouble.html |title='Leiby's Law' would provide safe places for children who are lost or in trouble |publisher=NY Daily News |date=July 21, 2011 |access-date=July 21, 2011}} On August 16, 2011, the Brooklyn District Attorney's office announced a similar program called "Safe Stop". So far, 76 stores have signed up to display a green "Safe Haven" sticker in their windows to help lost children.{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2011/08/17/2011-08-17_safe_haven_for_kids_storeowners_to_post_signs_on_windows.html |title=Storeowners post 'Safe Stop' signs on windows to help lost kids |last=Rizzo |first=Lillian |date= August 17, 2011 |access-date= August 18, 2011 |work=New York Daily News}}

{{Anchor|The Leiby Kletzky Security Initiative}}In September 2013, Assemblyman Dov Hikind and State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos announced the implementation of the Leiby Kletzky Security Initiative, which will provide the installation of 100 security cameras on public lampposts throughout the Midwood and Borough Park neighborhoods. Paid for by a $1 million state grant, the cameras will be maintained by Secure Watch 24, a private security firm and LLC controlled by Agudath Israel of America. Recorded data from the cameras will be retained for up to five years.{{cite web |url=http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/nyc-neighborhood-dismembered-boy-get-cameras |title=NYC Neighborhood of Dismembered Boy to Get Cameras |last=Pearson |first=Jake |date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=September 22, 2013 |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929082153/http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/nyc-neighborhood-dismembered-boy-get-cameras |archive-date=September 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} According to Agudath Israel of America, camera footage will be accessed only by the New York City Police Department.{{cite web |url=http://www.vosizneias.com/152146/2014/01/13/new-york-agudah-says-only-nypd-will-be-able-to-access-leiby-security-cameras/|title=New York - Agudah Says Only NYPD Will Be Able To Access Leiby Security Cameras|first=Sandy|last=Eller|date=14 January 2014|access-date=14 January 2014|work=Vosizneias}}

{{Anchor|Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund}}On July 20, 2011, relatives of Kletzky launched a website for the newly established Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund, which aims to raise $1 million to help children and families in crisis and need.{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/07/21/2011-07-21_leiby_kletzkys_family_starts_website_in_honor_of_slain_boy_aims_to_raise_1_milli.html|title=Leiby Kletzky's family starts website in honor of slain boy, aims to raise $1 million for needy kids |work=New York Daily News |date=21 July 2011 |access-date=21 July 2011|last1=Yaniv |first1=Oren |last2=Schapiro |first2=Rich |last3=Lauinger |first3=John}} In its first day of operation, the website garnered $61,581 from 1,365 donors.{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/21/leiby-kletzky-memorial-fund_n_905931.html |title=Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund Raises $60k in One Day |agency=Associated Press |work=Huffington Post |date=21 July 2011 |access-date=21 July 2011}}

{{anchor|"Leiby Forever" song}}In early August, Hasidic singer Lipa Schmeltzer released a ballad called "Leiby Forever" and a seven-minute music video showing home movies of Kletzky growing up. After the beginning of the video, a CCTV footage of the abduction plays.{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/08/15/2011-08-15_dad_lauds_memorial_song_about_slain_leiby.html |title='Leiby Forever' song helped me cope with son's death, Nachman Kletzky says |last=Weichselbaum |first=Simone |date=15 August 2011 |access-date=16 August 2011 |work=New York Daily News}}

In June 2017, Levi Aron's brother, Tzvi, was found dead in the same house where Leiby Kletzky's body had been discovered.{{cite web |url=https://abc7ny.com/kensington-brooklyn-leiby-kletzky-child-killed/2063373/ |title=Sources: Brother of Leiby Kletzky's killer found dead in Brooklyn home |date=June 4, 2017 |access-date=September 24, 2020|work=WABC-TV}} The body was found bound, wrapped in a blanket, and stuffed into a closet in the basement apartment, where Tzvi was living. Autopsy results were inconclusive as to the cause of death.{{cite web |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/06/05/autopsy-of-brother-of-man-who-killed-brooklyn-boy-inconclusive/|title=Autopsy of brother of man who killed Brooklyn boy inconclusive|agency=Associated Press|date=June 5, 2017|access-date=October 19, 2020|work=Brooklyn Eagle}}

• List of kidnappings
• List of murdered American children
• List of solved missing person cases
• Murder of Vicki Lynne Hoskinson

{{Reflist}}

• [https://nymag.com/news/features/levi-aron-2011-12/ "A Monster Among the 'Frum': The faithful of Borough Park have a saying: 'We are all of one face.' The life of Levi Aron, the outcast awaiting trial for the murder of 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky, suggests otherwise"] December 2011 feature in New York magazine
• [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/04/nyregion/20110805-levi-aron-confession.html?ref=leibykletzky Levi Aron Confession in Leiby Kletzky Killing]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110731040355/http://www.give2gether.com/projects/help-support-leiby-kletzky/ Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund]
• [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1575637/jewish/Statement-by-Rabbi-Nachman-and-Itta-Kletzky.htm Public statement by Rabbi Nachman and Itta Kletzky]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kletzky, Leiby}}

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