In the quiet town of Harrison, New York, a horrific tragedy unfolded that shattered a family and shook the community to its core. Deanna Nicole Hochman, a 13-year-old female, lost her life on February 21, 2015, in an unthinkable act of violence perpetrated by her own father. Deanna, a vibrant young girl known for her love of sports like baseball and softball and for being a cheerleading captain, was found deceased in her home.
The devastating discovery was made on a Saturday afternoon
when police responded to a call about a suspicious incident at the Hochman residence on Adelphi Avenue. Inside, they found the bodies of Deanna and her 17-year-old sister, Alissa. The person responsible for this double murder was their father, 52-year-old Glen Hochman, a retired White Plains police officer. After killing his two daughters, Glen took his own life. The family's three dogs were also found shot to death at the scene.
At the time of the horrific event, Deanna's mother, Anamarie, and her eldest sister, Samantha, were not at home. The investigation that followed confirmed the case as a murder-suicide. It was determined that Glen Hochman had shot and killed his two daughters while they were in their beds. A suicide note was discovered at the scene which contained financial instructions for his wife, indicating a level of planning in his final actions. Investigators also found that he had attempted to destroy his computers. Toxicology reports later showed that Glen Hochman was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.
The motive behind Glen Hochman's actions remained unclear, leaving a community to grapple with the senseless loss of two bright young lives. The tragedy left a lasting scar on Harrison, where friends, classmates, and neighbors mourned the deaths of Deanna and Alissa, remembering them as beloved members of their community.
