Family Members Say Man Who Killed Daughter In Murder-Suicide Had Violent History, Bit Man's Ear Off In Bar Fight

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YARDLEY, Pa. (CBS) -- Family members say the man who killed his young daughter in a murder-suicide in Manayunk had a violent history. The girl's aunt said the man bit off another's ear during a bar fight.

Seven-year-old Kayden Mancuso was found dead in her father's home on the 4500 block of Wilde Street in Manayunk on Monday morning. The body of 41-year-old Jeffrey Mancuso was discovered in a second-floor bedroom. Authorities say he died in an apparent suicide.

Kayden's parents were in the middle of a custody dispute at the time of her death.

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Despite having a documented history of violence, and a restraining order against Kayden's mother, Mancuso was still allowed visitation rights.

"The guy has a documented history of violence. He had bitten off a man's ear in a bar fight and was on house arrest," said Kerrin Paul, Kayden's aunt.

"I had a restraining order against him, he wasn't allowed to contact me, he wasn't allowed to contact our family," said Heather Giglio, the young girl's aunt. "We had a restraining order against him for my sister, but yet he can have his 7-year-old daughter near him?"

Questions are being raised why a court system didn't prevent Mancuso from being alone with his daughter in the first place.

"Knowing the system, this isn't something that happens everyday," said Karen Ulmer Pendergast, a child custody attorney.

She explained why the courts may have allowed Kayden's father unsupervised visits despite his violent history.

Anytime there was a criminal record more than 10 years, it is not even usually relevant in a custody case. I did look up the docket in this particular case and it was not 10 years, but it wasn't necessarily more recent as far as the aggressive behavior," said Pendergast.

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According to Pendergast, family courts also rationalize that just because someone is violent toward adults, it does not mean they'll be violent towards a child.

A vigil is being held for Kayden Tuesday night at Edgewood Elementary School.