Patrick Proefriedt Sentenced to 25 Years to Life for Firing Crossbow That Killed 3-Week-Old Daughter Eleanor and Injured Wife Destiny

Patrick Proefriedt Sentenced to 25 Years to Life for Firing Crossbow That Killed 3-Week-Old Daughter Eleanor and Injured Wife Destiny

COLESVILLE, N.Y. — In a case that has horrified the community and shaken the foundations of what should have been a time of love and new beginnings, 26-year-old Patrick Proefriedt will serve 25 years to life in prison for the brutal killing of his newborn daughter, Eleanor Proefriedt, and the attempted murder of his wife, Destiny Proefriedt.

Patrick admitted to unleashing a broadhead crossbow bolt at Destiny during a violent argument inside their Colesville home in June 2023 — fully aware she was holding their 3-week-old daughter at the time. The razor-tipped bolt pierced through Eleanor’s tiny body, striking her in the torso and exiting through her armpit before hitting Destiny in the chest. Baby Eleanor was killed instantly. Destiny, though seriously injured, survived.

On Friday, Broome County Court Judge Joseph Cawley handed down the maximum sentence for second-degree murder and attempted murder, condemning Proefriedt’s actions as “inhuman” and “irreparably devastating.”

“This was not a moment of madness,” Judge Cawley said sternly. “This was an act of deliberate, intimate violence. Patrick Proefriedt destroyed his own family in the most cowardly way imaginable.”

A Calculated Act of Domestic Terror

The tragic events unfolded just after 5:15 a.m. on June 26, 2023, when Broome County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the couple’s home following a chilling 911 call. Investigators say the argument between Patrick and Destiny escalated to lethal violence when Patrick retrieved a crossbow and fired at his wife without hesitation.

As Destiny cradled baby Eleanor in her arms, the bolt tore through the infant before embedding into Destiny’s chest. Despite her wounds, Destiny attempted to call for help. Patrick then tried to pull the bolt from her body and physically stopped her from reaching her phone before fleeing the home in a red Dodge Ram pickup truck.

Deputies launched an immediate search and found Patrick Proefriedt within hours. His truck had become stuck in the mud less than a mile from the home, and he was hiding in nearby woods when he was taken into custody.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Patrick had a documented history of domestic violence, and that prior threats against Destiny had raised red flags that tragically culminated in the death of their child.

Eleanor’s Death Reverberates Through the Community

The killing of baby Eleanor Proefriedt left a gaping wound not only in her mother’s heart but also across the Colesville community. Described by neighbors as a quiet family, the horror that unfolded behind closed doors stunned even seasoned investigators.

At a community vigil held shortly after the incident, dozens gathered with candles, teddy bears, and tearful prayers for Eleanor. Her short life — just three weeks old — was remembered with profound grief and disbelief.

Destiny Proefriedt, now a survivor of unimaginable loss, has become a voice for victims of domestic violence. In a statement made through her attorney, she mourned her daughter’s life and called for justice to protect other families from similar fates.

“Eleanor was innocent. She was everything good and pure in this world,” Destiny said. “Patrick took her from me, and I’ll live every day with that pain. But I survived, and I will speak for her — and for every woman who thinks she has to stay silent.”

No Mercy for Patrick Proefriedt

During sentencing, District Attorney Michael Korchak called Proefriedt’s actions “an act of evil so senseless it defies words.”

“Patrick Proefriedt didn’t just end a life — he shattered a future, he left scars no prison term can erase, and he weaponized the very home meant to protect a child,” Korchak said.

Proefriedt, who showed no remorse in court, was led away in handcuffs to begin serving his sentence: 25 years to life — a punishment many believe still falls short of true justice for baby Eleanor.

A Legacy of Love, Not Fear

As the legal chapter of this tragic case closes, Destiny Proefriedt remains focused on healing and remembering her daughter not for how she died, but for who she was — a precious, innocent child who deserved a full life, not a crossbow bolt.

In her memory, Destiny says she will fight to ensure Eleanor’s name stands as a warning, a cry for change, and a symbol of love rising from unthinkable pain.