A New York City mother has been charged with murder after allegedly calling 911 and telling a dispatcher she had killed her 5-year-old daughter inside their Queens home.
Francis Cabello, 32, was arrested following the October 14 death of her daughter, Fabiana Cabello, who was found unresponsive when police arrived at the family’s residence in South Richmond Hill.
According to law enforcement sources cited by The New York Times and several local television stations, Cabello called emergency services and allegedly told the dispatcher, “I killed my daughter.”
Police responded to the home near 110th Street and 95th Avenue around 6:55 p.m. Wednesday, where they discovered the little girl unconscious.
Emergency personnel rushed Fabiana to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, but doctors were unable to save her.
Investigators believe the incident occurred sometime between 5:30 p.m. and the arrival of officers at approximately 6:55 p.m.
Cabello was arrested Thursday, October 15, and charged with second-degree murder.
She appeared before Queens Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Saint-Preux the following day, where prosecutors presented preliminary medical findings and details surrounding the emergency call.
According to the criminal complaint, an examination revealed injuries that could be consistent with asphyxia, a condition that occurs when the body is deprived of sufficient oxygen.
The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for determining the child’s official cause and manner of death.
Cabello did not enter a plea during her initial appearance and was ordered held without bail. Her next court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday, October 20.
The tragedy has devastated Fabiana’s family, particularly her father, Kuldeep Singh, who described his daughter as the center of his world.
Singh established an online fundraiser to help pay for funeral expenses while he struggles to cope with the unexpected loss.
“I loved my daughter very much, and losing her feels like I lost my whole world,” he wrote.
Singh explained that he works as an Uber driver and is attempting to continue earning a living while dealing with the emotional and financial burden of arranging his daughter’s funeral.
Other family members remembered Fabiana as a cheerful, affectionate child who brought happiness to everyone around her.
Her uncle told NBC New York that she loved giving hugs and had an especially close relationship with her grandparents.
“She was very happy, happy girl,” he recalled.
As the family mourns, questions have emerged about Cabello’s circumstances before her daughter’s death.
Her father, Franklin Cabello, told CBS New York that she had previously experienced mental health difficulties and had recently received psychiatric treatment.
He said she had stopped taking prescribed medication, although the circumstances surrounding that decision have not been independently established.
Franklin described his daughter as someone who had previously been devoted to caring for Fabiana and said he was struggling to understand what happened.
He also expressed hope that the court would consider his daughter’s medical history during the legal proceedings.
However, authorities have not publicly established a motive, and no determination has been made about whether any reported mental health concerns contributed to the incident.
The investigation has also raised questions about previous contact between authorities and the family.
According to New York media reports, police had responded to the residence on earlier occasions, including an investigation involving possible child abuse in 2025 that was ultimately classified as unfounded.
It remains unclear whether any additional agencies had ongoing involvement with the household before Fabiana’s death.
For now, prosecutors are proceeding with the second-degree murder charge as detectives continue reviewing the evidence.
Under New York law, second-degree murder is a Class A-I felony that can carry a sentence of 15 years to life in prison or more, depending on the circumstances and applicable sentencing provisions.
Has anyone noticed the increase of mother’s killing their kids