Father left decapitated daughter for mother to find

A man believed to have decapitated his four-year-old daughter, and to have left the body for her mother to find, has been arrested in Washington DC.

Investigators had not found any history of domestic or mental health problems at the family home in Clayton, North Carolina, and still had no leads on a possible motive for the horrific killing, said Clayton police Lt Jon Gerrell.

Amber Violette told police on Friday evening that she had found her daughter, Katlin, with her head severed, police said.

An “edged weapon” believed to have been used in the killing was found in the house. Gerrell refused to give more details.

“This is devastating for the whole community as a whole, and it’s the most horrific thing I’ve seen in 13 years of police work,” said Sgt SP Lapsley. “That a father could do this to his child, I just can’t believe it.”

John Violette’s vehicle was found at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and investigators learned he had taken a flight to Washington. Deputy US marshals arrested the 37-year-old after police tracked his credit card to the hotel, Lapsley said.

Police said Violette would be held in Washington pending an extradition on a murder charge. The US Marshals Service said an extradition hearing was expected on Tuesday.

Lori McCreary, who lives across the street from the Violettes’ home, described the family as “very private, but normal”.

“They went to church every Sunday. They just seemed like a very happy, normal couple,” McCreary said.

“This is just so very, very shocking — and devastating.”