by: Alex Richter
In August 2023, a horrific crime shook the Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar. Seven-year-old Heaven Awot was brutally assaulted and murdered. This tragic event not only devastated her family but also exposed deep-seated issues within the community’s perception of such crimes, even as the case gathered international attention.
Heaven lived with her mother, Abekyelesh Adeba, a dedicated nurse, her younger 3-year-old sister, and her 15-year-old aunt (who was her mothers younger sister) in a rented home owned by landlord Getnet Baye. On a fateful day, while Abekyelesh was at work, Heaven informed her aunt that she was going to the bathroom, which in those kinds of properties, was in a separate building. But Heaven never returned. Her lifeless body was discovered by the young 3-year-old near the entrance of their home, showing signs of severe assault.
When Heaven went outside to go to the bathroom, she was lured into Getnet’s property. Once alone, Getnet assaulted her, inflicting serious internal injuries. She suffered internal trauma as the result of the attack, and her body showed signs of extreme physical violence. After the assault, Getnet strangled her to death before planting her in a fake scene outside of her own home. He planted fake objects and created a scene that made it look like Heaven fell while playing, but that doesn’t explain her internal trauma or why her clothes were found in his property. After Heaven was found, she was rushed to a local healer.
The severity of the crime was unimaginable, leaving the family in profound grief. However, the local community’s reaction was unexpected.
Despite overwhelming evidence against Getnet, local residents found it difficult to accept that he could commit such a heinous act. This belief led to a wave of support for Getnet, with some community members refusing to acknowledge the assault and instead blaming Heaven’s death on reckless playing outside of her home.
Getnet’s wife, in particular, was extremely unsettling during this case. In interviews, she consistently denied the assault, claiming that Heaven’s death was the result of a fall. Her demeanor in these interviews was found creepy to international observers, as she appeared detached and content in her assertions, despite the evidence presented.
This denial was so serious that Heaven’s mother faced direct threats by trying to seek justice for her young daughter. At one point, after Getnet’s initial arrest, he escaped, and authorities had no intention of going after him even after he said he would kill Abekyelesh. During this period, Abekyelesh and her family were forced into hiding due to safety concerns. Getnet was rearrested a month later, but the community’s support for him remained evident.
As the case progressed and gained more international attention, with over 240,000 individuals signing an online petition demanding life in prison for Getnet, the local community’s stance remained largely unchanged. Many residents continued to support Getnet, unable to reconcile the image of their neighbor with the atrocity committed. This denial persisted even as global advocacy groups and media outlets highlighted the case, calling for justice and safety for Abekyelesh.
Getnet was eventually sentenced to 25 years in prison, a verdict that many outside the local community viewed as excessively lenient given the severity of the crime. But the reluctance of the local commmunity to acknowledge the crime underscores the need for increased awareness and education about sexual violence and child protection.
As the world grapples with the aftermath of the atrocity, Heaven’s story serves as a somber reminder of the urgent need for change and justice for the most vulnerable. Activists and concerned citizens are urging for continued advocacy to raise awareness about violence against women and children. Supporting legal reforms and demanding accountability from lawmakers are essential to ensure that no other child suffers a fate similar to 7-year-old Heaven’s.
