13 year old killed by 31 year old cousin
Police: Teen slain with samurai knife; 31-year-old second cousin charged
13-year-old's second cousin, 31, charged with stabbing her and dog in Red Lion home
By TERRI SANGINITI • The News Journal • October 11, 2008
A Red Lion man who developed an intense dislike for his 13-year-old second cousin was charged Friday with killing her and her dog with a 12-inch samurai knife, police said.
David M. Goldsborough, 31, of the 900 block of Decoy Way in the Hunters Run community, was taken into custody Thursday a half-hour after Destiny Leifheit was found covered in blood in the rear bedroom of her home.
Goldsborough went there with the intention of killing her and brought two knives, according to court records.
When Leifheit let Goldsborough into the house, he "struck her on the head several times and then stabbed her with his knife multiple times so that she would die," police said in court records.
Then, he "choked and stabbed Chico," the teen's Chihuahua, police said.
The teenager suffered multiple stab wounds and died in an ambulance on the way to Christiana Hospital.
Goldsborough was taken into custody at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday in his home a few doors away from the scene. He lived there with his mother, Mary, and her husband, Tom McCready, and Destiny's younger brother, Christian.
Goldsborough had a fresh cut on his hand and told detectives "he did something really bad," police said.
Though the murder weapon was found in his home, Goldsborough was too intoxicated to be questioned until Friday, detectives said.
Goldsborough was wanted by police on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear on a DUI charge, police said. He had no other criminal record.
Goldsborough, who is unemployed, was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during a felony, carrying a concealed deadly weapon and cruelty to animals.
He is being held without bail on the murder charges and on $200,000 cash bail on the remaining charges in Young Correctional Institution. Relatives of the victim -- already reeling over her killing -- were shocked when police charged her second cousin.
"We never had an inkling that David had these psychotic tendencies," said Candice Fusco, who lives with the victim's uncle and grandfather. "We are completely shocked. None of us had any clue about any dislike and there was no reason for it."
Neighbors in the Hunters Run community also grieved.
"It breaks my heart. She was a good friend of my son's," Heather Zulkowksi said, referring to 13-year-old Anthony. "I get chills. I feel so bad for the aunt."
Terri Haslam, a bus driver for Gunning Bedford Middle School, where the teen was in eighth grade, said Destiny had problems in school last year, but showed 100 percent improvement this year.
"Destiny turned her life around," Haslam said. "She didn't need this."
Haslam delivered a Beanie Baby and Bible to Destiny's great-aunt Friday afternoon to be placed in her casket.
But to most neighbors, Goldsborough's arrest came as no surprise.
"He told me repeatedly that he was going to kill that dog," John Guhl said. "The dog runs around the whole neighborhood. He used to sit in his bedroom facing the street and say how he couldn't stand that dog barking."
Neighbors described Goldsborough as scary-looking and strange because of his piercings, tattoos and long beard. They said he was a loner.
"He is the creepiest-looking guy you'll ever see," said neighbor Shawn Wehte.
James Pournaras, 19, said Destiny and Goldsborough used to argue frequently.
"We saw him push her down, and we talked to him about that," Pournaras said.
Most neighbors also knew that he kept a collection of knives and swords.
Guhl said there were children playing outside near Destiny's home Thursday, including his 6-year-old grandson.
"If he came out with a knife with all those kids there, he could have done God knows what," he said.
There were no classes at Gunning Bedford Middle School Friday, but Colonial School District Superintendent George Meney said grief counselors will be available when students return Monday.
"We're saddened by the fact that one of our young students lost her life and our condolences go out to her family," Meney said.
Hundreds of pink and yellow ribbons fluttered from stop signs, streetlights and trees Friday and were tied there by neighborhood youths in Destiny's memory.
Fusco, the family friend, said Destiny visited her grandfather every weekend in the Glasgow Trailer Court, where she would watch movies, go to church and hang out.
She said Destiny's mother, who lives in Tennessee, has been notified of her daughter's death and is headed to Delaware.
"Destiny was a happy, energetic, wonderful little girl, Fusco said. "She made everyone around her smile with her big oversized sunglasses. That's what we're trying to picture right now."
This is just disturbing. WHat is wrong with this world?
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. -Sir Winston Churchill
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Originally Posted by Panama Girl
