Parents of child found dead at San Jose recycling plant engaged in bitter custody battle – NBC Bay Area

The parents of a three-year-old girl whose body was found at a San Jose recycling plant last weekend have been locked in a years-long custody battle.

The main suspect in the death of Ellie Obi Lorenzo, her father Jared Lorenzo, apparently committed suicide shortly after her death.

According to court documents, Ellie lived for a time with her mother, Chrystal Obi, in Mountain View and her father in Fremont.

Ellie wanted to move to Texas with her mother after receiving court approval as part of her divorce proceedings earlier this year.

Chrystal, a pediatric radiologist at Stanford, had sole custody of Ellie. Jared had just finished his MBA at Berkeley and the court had allowed him to schedule visits with his daughter.

Last July, court documents filed by Chrystal claimed her ex-husband had exhibited “increasingly erratic,” “disturbing,” and at times “angry” behavior. In the documents, she said she had serious concerns about Ellie’s safety and well-being while she was in his care. She described several incidents in which Jared allegedly delayed returning Ellie to her, violating his custody orders.

Jared’s court testimony spoke of his wife’s “extravagant lifestyle,” earning over $400,000 in some years. He also described pleasant afternoons spent caring for Ellie in the East Bay, taking her to toddler yoga, dance classes, the park and museums, and stated that Ellie “thriveted” under his care.

Chrystal is among those who now believe that Jared murdered Ellie before taking his own life.

San Jose police declined to comment Wednesday but are continuing to investigate.