Deaths of Tala and Rotana Farea
Tala Farea | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2002 |
| Died | 2018 (aged 15–16) New York City, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide (officially) |
| Body discovered | October 24, 2018 |
| Known for | Suicide pact with her sister |
Rotana Farea | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995 Saudi Arabia |
| Died | 2018 (aged 22–23) New York City, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide (officially) |
| Body discovered | October 24, 2018 |
| Known for | Suicide pact with her sister |
On October 24, 2018, the bodies of 16 year old Tala and 23 year old Rotana Farea were found along rocky banks of the Hudson River.[1][2] The bodies were bound with duct tape and the NYPD concluded there had been no foul play.[3] Police determined that their deaths were part of a suicide pact. Both of the sisters were last seen by their family in Virginia on November 30, 2017.[4] Before disappearing, the sisters lived in a "shelter-like" facility due to abuse allegations in their district.[4] A witness claimed he saw the two sisters 30 feet apart with their heads in their hands and that they appeared to be praying.[5][6]
The sisters had been missing from their home for several weeks.[7][8][9]
The medical examiner ruled that the sisters killed themselves.[10][11]
Connection to Saudi Arabia
[edit]New York Police have sources that the sisters would "Rather kill themselves than return to Saudi Arabia".[12] The sisters' mother told local media that the Saudi embassy in Washington had ordered the family to leave the U.S.[13] But Saudi Arabia refuted that stating, "Reports that we ordered anyone related to the Saudi sisters, Tala and Rotana Farea, God rest their souls, (who recently died tragically in NY), to leave the US for seeking asylum; are absolutely false. Details are still under investigation and will be shared in due course.''[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis; Southall, Ashley (29 October 2018). "2 Sisters Were Found Dead in the River, Duct-Taped Together. Police Have Few Answers". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ Batrawy, Aya (11 November 2018). "Sisters' tragic end in NY shows perils for female Saudi runaways". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ Lapin, Tamar (2018-10-27). "Dead women found duct-taped at UWS park identified as missing sisters". New York Post. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ a b Andone, Dakin; Karimi, Faith; Morales, Mark (November 2, 2018). "Sisters found in Hudson River would have rather died than return to Saudi Arabia, police say". CNN. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ Katersky, Aaron; Winsor, Morgan (2018-11-04). "Sisters found dead in river preferred suicide over returning to Saudi Arabia: Police". ABC News. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ Jovenal, Justin (2 November 2018). "No indication Saudi sisters found dead and bound with duct tape in NYC were killed, authorities say". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- ^ Jouvenal, Justin (1 November 2018). "'I don't know where my daughters are': Odd encounter deepens mystery surrounding disappearance and deaths of Saudi sisters". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- ^ Jackman, Tom (28 October 2018). "Deaths of Fairfax sisters found along New York's Hudson River remain a mystery". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis; Winston, Ali (2 November 2018). "Saudi Sisters, Seeking Asylum, May Have Committed Suicide, Police Say". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Saudi sisters killed themselves, says medical examiner". AOL. AP. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ Tacopino, Joe (22 January 2019). "Deaths of Saudi sisters found duct-taped ruled suicides". New York Post. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ "Sisters Maxed Credit Cards In Spending Spree Before Their Deaths, Eyed As Possible Suicides, Cops Say". Oxygen Official Site. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia denies involvement in death of sisters in New York". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia denies involvement in mysterious death of sisters in New York". Newsweek. 2018-11-03. Retrieved 2018-11-13.