Former Olympic Boxer Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing His 25-Year-Old Daughter and Dumping Her Body in Staten Island Park
PALMYRA, PENNSYLVANIA — A former Olympic boxer will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of brutally killing his 25-year-old daughter before dumping her body in a Staten Island park. Kabary Salem, 57, was sentenced this week to life in prison without parole after a Pennsylvania jury found him guilty of first-degree murder for the 2019 killing of his daughter, Ola Salem.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday called the crime “one of the cruelest acts imaginable,” noting that a father is expected to protect his child, not end her life. Salem’s sentencing was handed down by Judge Bradford Charles in the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas.
Daughter Found Strangled and Beaten in New York Park
Ola Salem’s body was discovered on Oct. 24, 2019, at Bloomingdale Park on Staten Island, partially concealed under branches and leaves. The medical examiner ruled she died from asphyxiation, with evidence of blunt-force trauma to her face, neck, and legs.
Ola was known for her advocacy work supporting victims of domestic violence. Friends described her as strong, determined, and deeply committed to helping others.
Prosecutors Used Surveillance and GPS Evidence to Reconstruct the Murder
During the trial, prosecutors presented a detailed timeline using surveillance footage, GPS records, and witness accounts. On the night of the murder, Salem was driving a rental car and was seen traveling between his restaurant, a nearby hotel, and a Lowe’s store where he purchased a blue Kobalt shovel.
Evidence showed:
- Two people were in the car when he arrived at the hotel
- Hours later, he returned alone
- By early morning, he drove to Staten Island
- Ola’s body was left in the park around 4:40 a.m.
- Salem was out of New York minutes later and headed back to Pennsylvania
The shovel matching the one Salem purchased was later found roughly 100 yards from where Ola’s body was discovered.
DNA Under the Victim’s Fingernails Helped Close the Case
Investigators testified that Ola fought fiercely for her life. Her struggle resulted in her father’s DNA being found under her fingernails, one of the key pieces of evidence supporting the prosecution’s case.
After his NYPD interview, Salem left the United States and fled overseas. He was located in Kuwait a year later and extradited back to the U.S. to stand trial.
Defendant Denies Responsibility Despite Overwhelming Evidence
During sentencing, Salem tearfully insisted that police had lied and that he was innocent. Judge Charles rejected those claims, saying the evidence was “overwhelming” and the jury’s decision reflected the truth.
Authorities emphasized that while the sentence cannot bring Ola back, it delivers necessary accountability for a devastating crime.
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