An Ohio woman has confessed to killing her newborn baby, citing financial difficulties as the reason, according to Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Cory Helffrich.
Basma Abdul Karim Alkelezli, along with her 19-year-old daughter, Hanan Ahmad Al Jabouli, stands accused of the heinous crime.
The incident unfolded on September 20 when Alkelezli gave birth at her home. Paramedics were called to the scene for medical assistance, with Al Jabouli reporting that her mother was unresponsive. During the 911 call, it was discovered that Alkelezli had recently given birth, but there was no sign of the baby in the house. Alkelezli was found to be bleeding excessively after cutting the umbilical cord.
Following the 911 call, officers from the Hillard Police Department conducted a search of the residence. To their horror, they discovered the lifeless body of the newborn baby in the trunk of a vehicle. The baby was immediately rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The coroner's office later confirmed that the baby had been born healthy before being killed.
Investigations revealed that Alkelezli had placed her newborn son in a plastic trash bag and instructed her daughter, Al Jabouli, to dispose of him. Al Jabouli then placed the bag inside a five-gallon bucket, which was subsequently placed in the trunk of a car in their backyard.
The chilling crime scene deeply affected the officers involved in the case, many of whom are parents themselves. Hilliard Division of Police Chief Mike Woods expressed his pride in the officers for persevering through such a distressing situation.
On September 22, both Alkelezli and Al Jabouli were arrested on suspicion of infanticide. Alkelezli faces charges of aggravated murder, murder, involuntary manslaughter, strangulation, two counts of endangering children, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. Al Jabouli, on the other hand, is charged with aggravated murder, murder, strangulation, endangering children, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and obstructing justice.
During their court appearance on Friday, the mother and daughter pleaded not guilty. However, they had previously confessed to the murder of the newborn. Alkelezli admitted to investigators that she was aware of her pregnancy and claimed that the baby would have imposed additional financial burdens on them. Helffrich stated that Alkelezli did not even look at the newborn and immediately placed the baby in a trash bag after giving birth.
Al Jabouli also confessed to her involvement in the crime. She admitted to helping her mother put the baby into an orange five-gallon bucket before placing it in the trunk of a vehicle. Helffrich revealed that Al Jabouli could still hear the baby crying from inside the trash bag.
Both Alkelezli and Al Jabouli are currently being held at the Franklin County jail. Alkelezli's bond has been set at $2 million, while her daughter's bond stands at $1 million.
This tragic case highlights the desperate circumstances that some individuals face, leading them to commit unthinkable acts. The court proceedings will shed further light on the motivations behind this horrific crime, while the community grapples with the shock and sadness that it has brought upon them.
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