The Kidnapping and Murder of Leiby Kletzky

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes content around the kidnapping and murder of a child. Listener discretion is advised.

Brooklyn, 2011. Eight year old Yehudah “Leiby” Kletzky had begged his mother to let him walk the few city blocks to his Hasidic Jewish summer camp. He didn’t want to ride the bus and his mother agreed but only after they both practiced the simple route too and from his summer camp. Leiby’s mother waited at their predetermined spot to hear about her little boy’s first day at camp but unfortunately that first day of camp, July 11, 2011 would be the last day that his family saw sweet Leiby. A missing boy in the Borough Park community of Brooklyn, NY would not be tolerated by the community. Every day men and women took to the streets in hopes to bring a neighbor home. One member would go as far as playing the role of private investigator. It was in this unfamiliar role of P.I. that Yaakov German would discover the truth of what happen to that little boy by viewing grainy surveillance videos. How could this happen to a boy in a guarded, close knit, Hasidic Jewish community. Time was running out and every effort was made to bring justice for Leiby Kletzky.

 

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References:

Blanco, J. I. (n.d.-b). Levi Aron | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. https://murderpedia.org/male.A/a/aron-levi.htm

Admin. (2011, July 15). BrOOklyN, NY - Amateur Sleuth Yaakov German helps cops catch Levi Aron and solve murder of Leiby Kletzky -. VINnews. https://vinnews.com/2011/07/15/brooklyn-ny-amateur-sleuth-yaakov-german-helps-cops-catch-levi-aron-and-solve-murder-of-leiby-kletzky/

Forward. (2017, June 6). Mystery Death Of Killer’s Brother Dredges Up Leiby Kletzky Horror In Hasidic Brooklyn. The Forward. https://forward.com/news/373832/mystery-death-leiby-kletzky-killer-hasidic/

Shaer, M. (2011, December 2). The story behind the murder of Leiby Kletzky and the trial of Levi Aron -- New York Magazine - NYMaG. New York Magazine. https://nymag.com/news/features/levi-aron-2011-12/

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, June 21). List of Hasidic dynasties and groups. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hasidic_dynasties_and_groups

Mixson, C. (2017, July 3). Murder mystery: Medical examiner can not determine how killer’s brother died, concludes. Brooklyn Paper. https://www.brooklynpaper.com/murder-mystery-medical-examiner-can-not-determine-how-killers-brother-died-concludes-investigation/

Gardiner, S. (2011, July 14). After Abduction, Suspect Says He Took Boy to Wedding. Wall Street Jounral. Retrieved July 28, 2024, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-METROB-13564