COLESVILLE, N.Y. — A Broome County courtroom was the scene of raw emotion and solemn justice Friday as Patrick Proefriedt was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the brutal killing of his 3-week-old daughter, Eleanor, and the attempted murder of his wife in a harrowing 2023 domestic violence case that shook the community.
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The attack, carried out with a crossbow, occurred in the early hours of a June morning last year, when sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from a Colesville residence. There, they discovered a devastating scene: infant Eleanor had been struck in the upper torso by a broadhead crossbow bolt while being cradled in her mother’s arms. The bolt pierced the newborn and also wounded her mother, who survived.
Authorities say the attack followed a domestic dispute, during which Proefriedt retrieved a crossbow and fired it at his wife. After the shooting, he reportedly attempted to remove the bolt from the baby and prevent his wife from calling for help, before fleeing the scene in a red 2016 Dodge Ram. He was apprehended hours later, found hiding in the woods after his vehicle became stuck in mud.
Proefriedt later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder, avoiding trial and bringing some closure to a grieving family.
In court, Judge Cawley delivered the maximum sentence allowed under New York law, condemning the heinous nature of the crime. “There is no sentence that can undo this horror,” the judge stated.
The case sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger protections against domestic violence. Officials confirmed that Proefriedt had a history of abuse, further intensifying public outcry over missed warning signs and the urgent need for early intervention.
The Broome County District Attorney’s Office praised the swift work of first responders and investigators, and extended condolences to the surviving family. “The loss of baby Eleanor is a tragedy that will forever haunt this community,” said a spokesperson. “But today, justice was served.”
Community members continue to mourn the life of Eleanor, who was just 21 days old when her life was violently cut short. Vigils and tributes in the months following the tragedy served as stark reminders of the fragile line between safety and danger in homes plagued by abuse.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for free, confidential support.
Eleanor’s memory lives on — a heartbreaking symbol of the need to protect the most vulnerable among us.
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