Father of Overland Park native killed in DC says daughter’s mission was peace

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The father of an Overland Park native shot and killed with her boyfriend in Washington, D.C., said building lasting peace was her goal.

Robert Milgrim spoke with KCTV5’s Grace Smith Thursday morning about his 26-year-old daughter, Capital Jewish Museum.

“We were just very close. We shared everything together. You know, she would Snapchat, my wife virtually every morning with a picture of her. She took the family dog with her to D.C.,” Milgrim said.

Milgrim said he learned about his daughter’s death while preparing to go to bed. While washing his face and watching T.V., Milgrim said he heard breaking news about a shooting in D.C. that involved people who worked for the Israeli Embassy.

“I realized there were only about 3 or 4 people at the embassy that it could have been,” Milgrim said. “The Israeli ambassador called us and told us the news.”

He said the ambassador also broke the news to Sarah’s parents that her boyfriend bought a ring and planned to propose next week when the couple was in Israel.

“We knew they were in love. We didn’t know they were getting engaged and it’s sad to learn that your daughter is getting engaged to one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met and we love Yaron,” Milgrim said.

“We truly loved him like family. We thought they were perfect together and it just ended right about the time they’re going to get engaged. The ironic part we were worried about her going to Israel.”

Milgrim said his daughter loved Israel and planned to continue working toward peace in the country.

“She had a very strong feeling for Israel and she also had a very strong desire to figure out and help broker peace,” Milgrim said.

Sarah graduated from KU and earned a dual masters degrees, one from American University in D.C. and the other from the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica, according to her father.

“She spent one summer working with an organization in Israel about young Palestinians and young Israelis together that had never met and didn’t know a whole lot about each other. She did friendship building between those groups,” Milgrim said.

She spent other summers traveling in Israel. Then, right before the October 7 War started in 2023, she was hired at the Israeli Embassy.

“Her duties ran from reaching out to marginalized groups and let them know that they’re welcome by the Jewish people and also welcome in Israel. Then she was the main liaison between the United Nations and the State Department for the atrocities committed against women, against the female hostages,” Milgrim said.

She also hosted hostage families when they traveled to the United States.

Milgrim said Wednesday’s event at the Capital Jewish Museum Sarah attended was to figure out how to get more aid into Gaza

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