Mom of slain 7-year-old New Rochelle girl: 'She was our light'

NEW ROCHELLE — The 7-year-old girl found dead in her home yesterday was suffocated by her father, police said. He has been charged with murder. 

Neil White, 47, was charged in the death of Gabrielle White, who was found dead Tuesday in their home at 3 Arbor Glen, police said during a news conference today.

Neil White had slash wounds on his arms but survived, police said. 

White's wife, Michelle Hord-White, filed for divorce in April, according to Westchester County records. The couple was living apart and shared custody of Gabrielle, police said.

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“No words could sum up all that Gabrielle meant to us but she was our light," Hord-White and her family said in a statement. "We are broken and devastated that our sweet little girl is gone but we’re thankful that we had seven wonderful years with her. While we begin to mourn privately, we thank those friends, colleagues, neighbors and strangers for the tremendous support that we’ve already received."

The family suggested those who wish to make a memorial donation make one at the hordfoundation.org, P.O. Box 4671 Danbury, CT 06813.”

Hord-White, originally from Detroit, works as vice president for talent acquisition and campus programs at NBC Universal and previously worked at "America's Most Wanted," according to her Facebook page. 

Gabrielle's body was discovered by a baby sitter. Police Capt. Robert Gazzola said the sitter had exchanged texts with Neil White around 1:40 p.m. Tuesday.

"She grew concerned based on the conversations that they had back and forth. So she went to the house to just check on the daughter. She saw Mr. White had cuts to his wrists. She saw some blood. She checked on the girl, and she saw that she wasn't moving, and she called us," he said.

Gazzola said the blood found in the house is believed to be Neil White's.

Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll said, "We're not going to speculate on a motive at this time."

"It hurts our community," Carroll said about the death. "We feel for the family at this time."

City Councilman Jared Rice, whose daughter was good friends with Gabrielle, posted a heartfelt message on Facebook saying the entire community is mourning the young girl's death. 

"For me, this hits particularly close to home as Gabrielle was a dear friend, classmate, and soccer, gymnastics, and Girl Scouts partner of my daughter Jocelyn. They adored each other," Rice said. "Please lift her family up in prayer as they attempt to deal with this horrific tragedy."

Gabrielle, a second-grader at William B. Ward Elementary School in New Rochelle, had not gone to school Tuesday. Police said they were looking into whether Neil White had called in her absence.

Neil White was treated for his wounds at Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital. He was arraigned Wednesday on a charge of second-degree murder before New Rochelle City Judge Anthony Carbone. White appeared in a blue hospital gown, wearing only tan socks on his feet. He had bandages on both forearms. The judge ordered him held and issued two orders of protection, for his wife and for another person. He's due back in court June 15.

White has worked in local politics and was working toward a master's degree in public administration at the College of New Rochelle, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Police responded to the home once before, for a domestic dispute in January between Neil White and Michelle Hord-White. It was a verbal dispute which was resolved and officers left after a few minutes, police said.

Police said they believe the cause of death to be asphyxia by suffocation but they said the exact cause is pending an autopsy. Police did not say when they thought she had been killed. 

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said Wednesday: "This is an exceptionally painful day for New Rochelle. Our entire community mourns this tragic event and is united in offering thoughts and prayers to Gabrielle's mother and to all who knew and loved Gabrielle."

Bramson said he has worked with members of the White family and has known them personally for years.

"For all friends of the family, this is devastating news that we will long struggle to comprehend," he said.

The New Rochelle school district issued a statement Tuesday on Gabrielle's death: 

"The City School District of New Rochelle and Ward School are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our students. The student’s family is in all of our thoughts and prayers," the school district said in a statement. "It is important for both schools and families to support them by listening to them carefully and helping them through their feelings."

The Journal News/lohud.com reporter Chris Eberhart contributed to this report.