Documents: Pickering stabbed daughter in the chest after park rangers approached
ASHEVILLE, NC (WLOS) – A federal criminal complaint was filed Tuesday charging Seth Willis Pickering, 36, of Leicester, N.C. with murder in the death of his 6-year-old daughter, Lila Pickering.
As Lila Pickering’s death occurred on federal land, the case falls under federal jurisdiction. Seth Pickering is expected to face a federal judge next Monday on the murder charge.
According to a U.S. District Court criminal complaint, at around 6 p.m. on September 9, 2016, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s office worked a missing juvenile report filed by Lila Pickering’s temporary custodian. The custodian told officers that Seth Pickering was supposed to have only supervised visitation with Lila, but during a visit Pickering left with the child without permission. The custodian told him not to, saying “They will put you in jail.”
Pickering shook his head and drove off, the complaint said.
Officers acted, gathering info and altering local law enforcement agencies. That same day at about 6 p.m., park rangers Brian Ruh and Cody Marsh saw a Dodge Avenger parked along the Blue Ridge Parkway shoulder.
A registration check showed the car was Pickering’s. The rangers had no information about a missing juvenile, and observed Pickering and Lila walk down a steep embankment. According to the complaint, the rangers parked and began watching, observing Pickering cut brush and start a small fire. At approximately, 6:50 p.m. the two rangers approached, investigating an illegal campsite and campfire.
Marsh announced his presence from about 20-25 feet from Pickering, saying “Police!” and initiating a conversation. The complaint said that without warning, Pickering then turned from the officer and stabbed Lila in the heart with a knife. The child fell to the ground.
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