The State : Father Held in Slaying of Girl

A Sacramento man allegedly stabbed his 8-year-old daughter to death and critically wounded his three other children with a 10-inch knife before being arrested. Neighbors said that Michael Wayne Nida, 31, at one point cradled his mortally wounded daughter, Laura, in his arms and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Superficially wounded in the assault was Nida’s wife, Diana, who ran out of the house screaming, “He stabbed my babies and he cut me.” Also stabbed were the couple’s daughter, April, 4, and twin boys, John and Erick, 7. Arriving police were attacked by a pit bulldog, which they shot, that belonged to Nida. Neighbors said the suspect frequently used drugs.