February 22, 2008

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Dad choked teen, stuffed her in burning boiler

WHO: Miguel Matias, 14-year-old daughter Ana
WHERE: NEW YORK
WHEN: Fri February 22, 2008
WHAT: Police said Matias, 34, was being held at Bellevue Hospital Center and awaiting arraignment on charges of murder and manslaughter. It wasn't clear if he had an attorney.
WHY: But the unassuming building supervisor also had a dark side, including a history of violence and mental problems. Police said his torment peaked last week when he grew so enraged that his 14-year-old daughter, Ana, was sending text messages to a boy that he choked her and stuffed her body into a burning furnace boiler. The killing shocked friends and family especially a cousin who received a phone call from Matias in which he calmly described what he had done.
HOW: Family members said it was only after one of his sons said goodbye to his sister that Matias changed his mind and decided not to torch the car. It was not clear why he continued to have visitation rights. Family members said that before Ana's death, Matias wanted to seek psychiatric help. They said he had applied for Medicaid insurance to cover the expense of counseling, but was denied. Matias also tried to hang himself while in police custody last weekend.