Police: Dad says he killed girl for texting boy

Body found in apartment building boiler in New York; parents separated

Video: Crime & courts

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updated 10:28 p.m. ET Feb. 16, 2008

NEW YORK - A father who said he was upset with his teenage daughter for text-messaging a boy has been arrested on charges of killing the girl, whose burned body was found stuffed in the boiler of his apartment building, police said.

The 34-year-old man called police Saturday morning, claiming he had strangled his 14-year-old daughter the night before because of the text messaging and had dumped her body in a wooded area, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

The girl had been visiting Miguel Matias but lived in Pennsylvania with her mother and two sisters. The parents were separated, and Matias had visitation rights. He had a history of emotional problems and was institutionalized after trying to set a car on fire with children inside in Pennsylvania, Kelly said.

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The daughter, believed to be in the car when Matias tried to burn it, was the only child visiting him at the apartment, Kelly said.

Kelly couldn't say whether the teen was dead before she was stuffed into the boiler, and the medical examiner's office is to determine the cause of death.

There was no telephone listing for Matias at the address provided by police.