Father strangles his 5-year-old daughter to death - Newstrends
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Father strangles his 5-year-old daughter to death

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Zachary Arnold

Father strangles his 5-year-old daughter to death

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) has arrested Zachary Arnold, 41, and they say he confessed to murd£ring his 5-year-old daughter Zara Arnold on May 19, per court documents.

Arnold, 41, initially claimed that his daughter had fallen down the stairs when he called 911 to report she was not breathing that morning, according to the IMPD.

He then changed his story while being questioned by detectives with the IMPD, allegedly telling them that he strangled his daughter after having an argument with his girlfriend.

Detectives with the IMPD then spoke with Arnold’s girlfriend who confirmed that the two were fighting, and then allegedly said that she saw Zara being choked by her father.

The Indy Star and News8, citing court documents, report that Arnold sent his girlfriend “photos of Zara foaming at the mouth,” “called her on FaceTime while choking the girl” and “said to call 911 because he was going to hurt the little girl.”

The girlfriend claims that she told him to stop but “thought he was just playing,” according to the court documents obtained by the Star and WTHR.

At no point did the girlfriend contact authorities or tell anyone about the photo, what she saw on FaceTime or the threat Arnold allegedly made about his daughter, according to the documents.

The girlfriend later told police that she did not call 911 because she was afraid of Arnold.

The documents also revealed that the girlfriend had videos on her phone of the 5-year-old girl being swung around with a noose by her father, according to court documents.

The morning of May 19, first responders found Zara Arnold cold, stiff and covered in bruises at her father’s house in the 200 block of North Lasalle Street.

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Zachary Arnold, 41, was arrested on charges of murd£r and neglect of a dependent in connection with the little girl’s de@th.

In an interview, Arnold admitted that he’d strangled her the night before after becoming enraged during an argument with his girlfriend, Andrea Lopez-Figueroa.

Lopez-Figueroa told police she’d left the home on May 18. Arnold wanted her to stay over that night to watch Zara, who was returning from a weekend at a family friend’s house, but Lopez-Figueroa wanted to go home. She told him she “wanted to be single and needed to think,” according to investigators.

That was the start of a prolonged argument that Arnold blamed for the extended attack on his daughter in a police interview.

“It kept amping up and Zara was crying,” detectives wrote.
Over several hours, Lopez-Figueroa watched on FaceTime calls as Arnold assaulted his daughter, police wrote.

She told him to stop when he held Zara down by her legs and choked her. She told him to stop when he picked Zara up by her throat. She told him to stop when he pulled the little girl by her hair. At no point did she call 911. Instead, she took screenshots of the assault.

She told investigators she didn’t call for help because she was afraid of Arnold, even though Arnold had ordered her to call for help because he was going to k!ll Zara.

Lopez-Figueroa thought they were “playing” at the time, according to investigators.

She estimated that Arnold ch0ked his daughter more than 10 times throughout their argument.

In the last call of the night, Lopez-Figueroa said she saw Zara motionless and bloodied.

“It looked like she was breathing,” she told investigators, according to court documents. At some point after that, she went to sleep.

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When Arnold called Lopez-Figueroa back in the morning, he was doing compressions on Zara and pacing back and forth.

At 11:07 a.m., as first responders examined the girl’s lifeless body, Arnold texted Lopez-Figueroa that the little girl had d!ed.

She was soon picked up by police for questioning.

A forensic search of Lopez-Figueroa’s phone corroborated her account of repeated FaceTime calls, texts and social media messages throughout May 18 and 19.

Multiple videos from Lopez-Figueroa’s phone, some recorded as early as April 10, showed Arnold str@ngling Zara.

One of the videos from the night of May 18 shows Arnold swinging Zara around by a noose. He throws the girl over his shoulder and hangs her behind his back.

“Zara appears to still be alive in all of these videos,” detectives wrote.

A warrant has been issued for Lopez-Figueroa’s arrest on charges of assisting a criminal and failure to make a report.

Arnold’s initial hearing was early May 22. He was not given bond. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said he will seek life without parole.

Arnold had previously been charged with r@pe in 2020, but managed to get that charge dismissed in a plea deal with prosecutors, according to a sentencing order.

He had also been charged with violating protective orders filed by Zara’s mother on at least three occasions, per the sentencing order. It shows that he entered a guilty plea to an invasion of privacy charge just days before his daughter’s death.

The judge in that case sentenced Arnold to 360 days in county jail but then suspended all 360 days, allowing him to return home.

That was on May 12, a week before Zara’s death.

On Wednesday, May 21, a spokesperson for the Marion County Coroner’s Office told PEOPLE that Zara’s cause of de@th was multiple blunt force injuries and her manner of de@th was homicide.

Arnold is now being held at the Adult Detention Center and is facing charges of murd£r and neglect of a dependent. The IMPD says more charges could be filed, as the investigation is ongoing.

The probable cause affidavit also notes that Arnold blames his actions on his girlfriend, telling detectives that “she did this” to him and her actions are “making him out to be a monster.”

Father strangles his 5-year-old daughter to death

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“I Needed Money” – Blessing CEO Admits Faking Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Sparks Outrage

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Court grants Blessing CEO N20m bail in alleged N69.15m property fraud case

“I Needed Money” – Blessing CEO Admits Faking Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Sparks Outrage

 

Controversial Nigerian relationship influencer and self-acclaimed therapist, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has triggered widespread outrage after reportedly admitting that her claims of battling breast cancer were false and that she fabricated the story because she needed money.

 

According to a report by Pinpoint News, the social media personality confessed that her emotional disclosure about having breast cancer was not genuine, explaining that financial difficulties influenced her decision.

 

Her reported admission has sparked angry reactions, particularly among Nigerians who had expressed sympathy and concern following her earlier claims about her health.

 

The development has also raised questions about the credibility of online fundraising appeals and the growing exploitation of public sympathy by social media personalities.

 

The controversy has attracted fierce criticism from social media users, many of whom described the alleged deception as insensitive to women genuinely battling breast cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

 

Critics argued that fabricating a cancer diagnosis for financial gain trivialises the suffering of patients undergoing painful treatments and makes it increasingly difficult for people with genuine medical emergencies to receive public support.

 

Some commentators also expressed concern that the incident could discourage Nigerians from contributing to legitimate medical fundraising campaigns.

 

Blessing CEO reportedly attributed her action to financial pressure, saying she needed money. However, the explanation has done little to calm the growing backlash, with critics insisting that financial difficulties cannot justify misleading the public with a fabricated life-threatening illness.

 

The influencer, who has frequently attracted public attention for her controversial opinions on relationships, marriage and family matters, has repeatedly found herself at the centre of social media debates.

 

However, the latest controversy has generated a different level of condemnation because of its implications for public trust, medical fundraising and people genuinely battling cancer.

 

As of the time of filing this report, no official statement from law enforcement authorities regarding possible legal action over the alleged deception had been reported.

 

The controversy continues to generate reactions online, with some Nigerians demanding accountability and calling for stronger scrutiny of fundraising appeals made by social media influencers.

 

“I Needed Money” – Blessing CEO Admits Faking Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Sparks Outrage

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Pastor Remanded Over Viral Video of Toluwanisings’ Corpse After Failed Attempt to Raise Singer From Dead

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ToluwaniSings’ Final Hours: Aide Reveals Desperate Search Across 8 Hospitals

Pastor Remanded Over Viral Video of Toluwanisings’ Corpse After Failed Attempt to Raise Singer From Dead

 

IBADAN, Oyo State — A self-proclaimed prophet, Moses Idowu, has been remanded in a correctional facility after allegedly filming and circulating disturbing footage of the corpse of late Nigerian gospel singer, Olayemi Bayonle Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, following a failed attempt to resurrect the deceased.

 

The development has sparked renewed controversy surrounding the gospel musician’s death, with the Oyo State Police Command warning social media users against exploiting the tragedy through unverified allegations and sensational publications.

 

The police confirmed the prophet’s remand on Friday in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade.

 

According to the police, Idowu allegedly visited the morgue where Toluwanisings’ remains were deposited, claiming he possessed the spiritual ability to bring the deceased singer back to life.

 

However, during the unauthorised visit, the suspect allegedly recorded a video showing the singer’s corpse and subsequently circulated the footage on social media without the consent or knowledge of his family.

 

Police authorities said the suspect went further to make what they described as unsubstantiated and defamatory allegations against the singer’s widow, Mrs Olayemi Elizabeth Damilola, and his personal assistant and manager, Babadunmi Gbolabo, accusing them of having a hand in his death without presenting credible evidence.

 

Following investigations, Idowu was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on the unlawful recording and publication of a deceased person’s image, indignity to a human body, publication of defamatory material and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

 

After taking his plea, the presiding magistrate ordered his remand at a correctional facility.

 

The court subsequently adjourned the case until December 2, 2026, for further proceedings.

 

Police Arrest Blogger Over Alleged False Claims Against Singer’s Family

 

In a related development, the police also confirmed the arrest and arraignment of a blogger and content creator, Oladapo Joshua Dunminimnun, over videos allegedly accusing members of Toluwanisings’ family and his personal assistant of involvement in his death.

 

Dunminimnun was arrested on Thursday, November 12, following the circulation of several videos on Facebook containing the allegations.

 

DSP Ayanlade disclosed that the blogger allegedly continued publishing the videos despite repeated warnings from the police and the bereaved family.

 

The police spokesperson also said the suspect disregarded a peace undertaking previously signed by concerned parties, which reportedly restrained individuals from making public statements or publications concerning the late musician.

 

He was subsequently arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on the publication of false news on Facebook, unlawful publication of defamatory material and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

 

The court adjourned his case until December 11, 2026.

 

Police Warn Social Media Users Against Exploiting Toluwanisings’ Death

 

Reacting to the developments, the Oyo State Police Command expressed concern over what it described as the growing practice of some content creators exploiting tragic incidents to generate online engagement.

 

The command cautioned that freedom of expression does not exempt anyone from legal consequences, particularly when publications involve alleged defamation, false information or actions capable of disturbing public peace.

 

It urged members of the public to respect the dignity of deceased persons, demonstrate compassion towards grieving families and allow law enforcement agencies and the courts to handle sensitive matters.

 

How Toluwanisings’ Death Sparked Family Controversy

 

Toluwanisings died on October 14, 2026, after reportedly slumping at his residence in Ibadan.

 

His sudden death triggered widespread reactions and weeks of disagreement between his father, Muniru Adekunle Olayemi, and his widow over arrangements for his burial.

 

The disagreement reportedly generated considerable public attention, with the police intervening to restore calm and prevent further tension among the deceased singer’s relatives.

 

Following the intervention, the gospel musician was eventually buried at his Ibadan residence on November 9, 2026, in a quiet and private ceremony.

 

The latest arrests have added another dimension to the controversy, as the police move against individuals accused of circulating unauthorised footage of the deceased and making allegations against members of his family.

 

Pastor Remanded Over Viral Video of Toluwanisings’ Corpse After Failed Attempt to Raise Singer From Dead

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Kwankwaso’s Daughter, Kano Governor’s Wife, Files for Divorce, Offers to Refund Dowry

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Kwankwaso’s Daughter, Kano Governor’s Wife, Files for Divorce, Offers to Refund Dowry

 

ABUJA — Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, the wife of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and daughter of former Kano State Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reportedly approached an Abuja court seeking the dissolution of her marriage to the governor.

 

Zainab, who is the governor’s second wife, reportedly instituted the divorce proceedings at the Upper Area Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, in a case marked CV/97/26.

 

In her application, she reportedly expressed her willingness to refund the dowry paid by Governor Yusuf as part of the process of ending their marriage.

 

Reasons Behind Divorce Application

 

According to details contained in the court filings, Zainab cited an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, alleging that the relationship had lost the love, affection, care and emotional connection necessary for a successful marital union.

 

She also reportedly expressed concern that continuing in the marriage could make it difficult for her to observe the limits and obligations prescribed by Islamic injunctions governing marital relationships.

 

The couple reportedly got married on July 29, 2006, when Zainab was serving as an aide to her father, Senator Kwankwaso.

 

Their marriage has produced six children.

 

Court Summons Governor Yusuf

 

Following the filing of the divorce suit, the Upper Area Court in Gudu reportedly issued a summons directing Governor Yusuf to appear before it on November 17, 2026, in connection with the proceedings.

 

The development is attracting attention because of the political relationship between the governor and his father-in-law, Senator Kwankwaso, who was instrumental in Yusuf’s emergence as governor.

 

The relationship between the two political figures has reportedly become strained amid political disagreements surrounding the future of the Kwankwasiyya political movement and the governor’s political direction.

 

The divorce proceedings have now introduced a family dimension to the already widely discussed relationship between the two political camps.

 

However, the legal action should be treated separately from the political disagreements, as no established evidence in the reported court filings has linked the divorce application directly to the political differences.

 

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kano State Government nor Governor Yusuf had issued an official statement concerning the reported divorce proceedings.

 

The court is expected to hear the matter on November 17, 2026.

 

 

Kwankwaso’s Daughter, Kano Governor’s Wife, Files for Divorce, Offers to Refund Dowry

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