Dr. Abbey Horwitz, 68, a well-known dentist in Virginia was fatally stabbed multiple times by his own daughter.
Michael “Norah” Horwitz, 34, went inside her father’s home in Birdneck Point, a neighborhood in Virginia Beach, on the morning of June 3 and then proceeded to stab him to death.
According to Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, the suspect was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and stabbing in the commission of a felony.
“She is currently being held at the Virginia Beach Jail, where she has been placed under suicide watch,” the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Horwitz, who police say goes by the name “Norah” and is in the process of a gender transition, has been appointed a public defender.
A motive for the violence remains unclear, but police claim the deadly stabbing happened during what they called a domestic dispute inside the victim’s home.
According to his obituary, Dr. Horwitz was a married father of three children who practiced dentistry in the Virginia Beach area for more than 40 years.
“Abbey shared his love of life with everyone he met. Whether through his dental practice or his volunteer efforts, or even just the stranger standing next to him, he touched people’s lives and brought immense light and joy to those around him,” his obituary reads.
A sign on Dr. Horwitz’s practice, called The Art of Dentistry, reads “it is with a heavy heart we will be closed to mourn the passing of our beloved Abbey”.
A former patient of Dr. Horwtiz said, “He was a very funny guy, always joking with his staff and patients, but always professional. He made you feel at ease no matter the procedure being done.”
The former patient added that Dr. Horwitz and his wife had recently retired in February and were looking forward to traveling.
Known as an “active member of his community,” Dr. Horwitz served as President of the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater and as President of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
He grew up in the Bronx, N.Y., where he graduated from Fordham University before attending the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry in Richmond, Va., his obituary states.
