On Sunday night, a four-year-old student of Bialik Hebrew Day School’s north campus in Toronto was found dead next to her father at the bottom of a cliff in Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area. The Toronto Star reported that Keira Kagan’s father, Robin Brown, had been locked in a bitter custody battle over her with her mother, Jennifer Kagan.
Keira and Brown went for a hike in the Milton, Ont., park on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 9. Police started searching for the two around 7:30 p.m. when Brown’s girlfriend notified the police that they hadn’t returned, and found them around 11 p.m.
“She’s a precious little girl,” Kagan told the CBC. “Keira was absolutely a doll, an absolute angel, adored by absolutely everyone.”
Bialik’s head of school was not able to immediately comment on the situation, but the school did release the following statement:
“Bialik Hebrew Day School mourns the passing yesterday of a student at our Himel Branch. We offer our sincere condolences to the family. School counselling services are being made available to students to provide the necessary support.”
On the Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel page for Keira, many people left their condolences, including a number who identified as a bubbe or zayde, a community member, or a parent or staff at Bialik.
“I remember just a week ago seeing you at Bialik dropping off your daughter,” one parent wrote. “Keira was such a beautiful little angel with so much life to live. I am so sad for you and your family. I promise you that her memory will live on forever in my heart. The entire Bialik community and all of Keira’s friends are praying for Keira and you and your family and we all are morning the loss of Keira. My deepest condolences to you and your family.”
