October 18, 2022 - Manhattan, NY

Age 32

Narkis died unexpectedly in the middle of a legal battle to protect her young son from being sent back to Italy to his father. She had been in a four year international child custody case. Her husband abused her emotionally, physically, and sexually, even threatening to kill her. Narkis had won the Hague Convention case brought by the father. That decision was appealed to the US Supreme Court, where Narkis prevailed unanimously. Shockingly, when the case was sent back down to the Federal Court Judge, she ordered the young boy to return to Italy. Narkis was working with her lawyers on an appeal at the time of her death. 

A day after the ruling, Golan wrote on Facebook: "After winning at the Supreme Court, I had to yet again face the same unsympathetic judge who wants to force my son back to a country where I was tortured, raped and abused in every way. There was never justice for me."

The cause of death was reported as a brain bleed, although her family said it didn’t make sense to them, as she was very healthy. Narkis leaves behind a son.

A Go Fund Me is established for her son.

Latest Updates

As of January 2024, Morin Golan, Narkis’s sister, now has full custody of Narkis’s son. However, “the boy has returned from recent visits with his father distressed and with bruises”.

News Coverage

• In Loving Memory of Narkis Golan - Sanctuary For Families

• Family questions death of domestic violence victim whose case made it to Supreme Court following yearslong custody battle

• Domestic Abuse Survivor Who Won Landmark Supreme Court Case Is Found Dead in Her Home

• A mother spent years fighting for her son. Now he could be sent back to her abusive husband in Italy

WeSpoke reporting by Olivia Fey