STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: In a deeply tragic incident that has left a community in shock, California woman Mina Nazari, 37, has been accused of fatally stabbing her 4-year-old daughter and attempting to kill her 10-year-old son.
The horrific event took place inside their apartment and Nazari now faces a series of serious charges, including murder, attempted murder, and child abuse resulting in death.
Horrifying discovery of murder with a dangerous weapon
Court documents reviewed by Law&Crime reveal that Nazari has been charged with one count of murder with a dangerous weapon and one count of child abuse resulting in death in the killing of her minor daughter.
Prosecutors allege that the child's killing was premeditated, as they describe it as having been carried out "willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously and with malice aforethought."
The Modesto Police Department responded to an emergency call on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at approximately 12:48 pm, reporting a potential assault at the Crown Ridge Apartments on Scenic Drive.
Tragically, upon arriving at the scene, first responders discovered the lifeless body of the 4-year-old girl, identified as Sana Akram, while her 10-year-old brother was found unharmed.
Additional charges against Nazri
On Tuesday, the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office announced additional charges against Nazari, revealing that she also attempted to kill her 10-year-old son.
She now faces charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and permitting a child to suffer under circumstances likely to cause great bodily harm in connection with her son's ordeal.
Though investigators have yet to disclose any potential motive behind this heartbreaking incident, the community has been deeply affected.
Mina Nazari, who was born in Iran and came to the US as a refugee, has reportedly been grappling with depression and mental illness.
Community leaders stressed upon the need for better mental health support, particularly for individuals from South Asia, where there might be a reluctance to seek professional assistance due to the associated stigma.
Gulshan Yusufzai, the executive director of the Muslim American Society Social Services Foundation, emphasized the importance of recognizing the signs of mental distress and seeking help.
He said, “Many times, there’s a stigma associated with going out of the family asking for mental health supportive services.”
Yusufzai further added, "If she is depressed, if she is not taking care of herself if you are able to see those things happening, she’s not sleeping well – these are all signs that she’s not doing well and she needs support.”
In the wake of this heartbreaking tragedy, a GoFundMe page has been set up by a family friend to collect donations for the victim's funeral and memorial services.
Mina Nazari is currently in custody without bond and is scheduled to appear in Stanislaus Superior Court for a bond hearing on October 24, as indicated by jail records.
