Prominent Virginia dentist stabbed to death by daughter
A respected Virginia Beach dentist was allegedly stabbed to death in his home by his daughter during what police said was a “domestic dispute.”
On Saturday morning, Dr. Abbey Horwitz, 68, discovered by police with multiple stab wounds and pronounced dead at the scene, Virginia Beach police said in a statement press release.
His 34-year-old daughter, Norah Horwitz, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and stabbing and is being held at the Virginia Beach Jail.
She appears in the prison records as Michael and the police said she was transferring.
The Virginia Beach sheriff’s office said they were monitoring her in jail and she was placed on suicide watch Virginian pilot reported.
Dr. Abbey Horwitz (pictured), 68, was a respected Virginia Beach dentist who was reportedly stabbed by his daughter Saturday morning
Dentist’s 34-year-old daughter, Norah Horwitz, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and stabbing
The Virginia Beach sheriff’s office said they were monitoring Horwitz and she was placed on suicide watch at the Virginia Beach jail
According to the press release, police were called to Horwitz’s home at 1304 Wren Place in the Birdneck Point neighborhood of Virginia Beach at 8:54 a.m. Saturday.
About 20 minutes later, at 9:13 a.m., they said he was pronounced dead by EMS.
Horwitz appeared in court Monday morning via video call and was appointed by the judge, local broadcaster, as a public defender to hear her case WTKR reported.
Footage obtained by the station shows Horwitz in her prison cell.
A hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, but she reportedly withdrew the hearing while seeking other legal advice.
Abbey Horwitz was from the Bronx and attended Virginia School of Dentistry in Richmond before moving to Virginia Beach, according to a website dedicated to his dental practice The Art of Dentistry.
He was active in the local Jewish community and volunteered for dental services in Israel, Romania, the former Soviet Union and Nicaragua.
Police were called to Horwitz’s home at 1304 Wren Place in Virginia Beach’s Birdneck Point neighborhood at 8:54 a.m. Saturday (pictured)
Norah Horwitz will appear in court via video call on Monday and was assigned a public defender to take her case
The suspect, Norah Horwitz, appears in prison records as Michael and is said to be in transition
Horwitz ran his dental practice less than two miles from his home.
A local entrepreneur and longtime Horwitz customer told WTKR his death would be felt throughout the Virginia Beach community.
“He helped us get started here. He immediately jumped on board and gave us advice, came to our grand opening, without having to ask him,” said Michele Nielson.
“It wasn’t unusual for us to drive to work and he had a whole mobile workshop to detail all the staff’s cars. Just that kind of generous spirit and you just don’t come across much anymore,” she added.
He also served as Tidewater’s United Jewish Federation, which described him as a “great man.”
A neighbor told the Virginian-Pilot that Horwitz would often host cookouts for his parents, children, and grandchildren.
In Virginia Beach, Horwitz ran a dental practice, The Art of Dentistry (pictured in March 2023), less than two miles from his home
Horwitz was from the Bronx and attended Virginia School of Dentistry in Richmond before moving to Virginia Beach
“What I’ll always remember is he always had his whole family together, kind of like ‘The Waltons,'” they said.
“He seemed like the perfect family man.”
A neighbor across the street, who declined to be named, told the paper they had been dental patients at Abbey’s for five to 10 years.
“Pretty good dude, solid dude, no problems. Family more or less took care of itself. They are good people, it’s just very sad,” said the neighbor.