A 5-year-old girl died after police found her unresponsive inside her family’s home in Queens, New York, following a 911 call in which her mother allegedly told dispatchers she had killed her daughter.
Francis Cabello, 32, is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of her daughter, Fabiana Cabello Singh. Prosecutors say the child was found seriously injured on October 14, 2026, after officers responded to the family’s home in the Richmond Hill neighborhood.
Cabello was taken into custody and remains jailed without bail. She pleaded not guilty during her initial court appearance, and the case is moving through the criminal justice system.
The circumstances surrounding Fabiana’s death have left her family grieving while investigators continue examining what happened inside the home.
911 Call Led Police to the Family’s Home
According to the criminal complaint, Cabello contacted emergency dispatchers on Wednesday and allegedly said, “I killed my daughter.”
Officers arrived at the home at approximately 6:30 p.m. and encountered Cabello at the front door. She allegedly told them that the child was upstairs and not breathing.
Police then went to a bedroom, where they found Fabiana unresponsive and bleeding from her nose and mouth.
Officers rushed the girl to Jamaica Hospital in a police vehicle. Despite their efforts to get her medical attention quickly, she was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital.
Investigators are working to establish exactly what happened before the emergency call and what led to the child’s fatal injuries.
Medical Findings Raised Questions About the Cause of Death
The medical examination revealed injuries and other findings that prompted further investigation.
According to the criminal complaint, the medical examiner documented scrapes on Fabiana’s face and petechiae involving her eyes, heart and lungs. Petechiae are tiny spots caused by bleeding beneath the skin or other tissues and can occur in different medical circumstances, including some cases involving asphyxia.
The findings raised concerns about possible asphyxia, but the child’s exact cause of death was still pending in the initial reports.
A final determination by the medical examiner is important because it can help investigators understand the nature of the injuries and assess the evidence surrounding the death. Until that determination is available, the precise medical circumstances remain unresolved publicly.
Authorities have not established a complete public account of the events leading up to the child’s death.
Mother Taken for Psychiatric Evaluation
Following the discovery, Cabello was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation before being placed in custody.
Her father, Franklin Cabello, reportedly lived in the same home and was present when police arrived. He told local reporters that his daughter had mental health problems and was taking medication.
However, the family’s statements about her health differ. Fabiana’s father, Kuldeep Singh, said he had not been aware of mental health issues and described Cabello as a mother who cared deeply for their daughter.
Mental health treatment alone does not establish why a person may have acted in a particular way, and the publicly available information does not establish a definitive explanation for the alleged incident.
Investigators and the court will need to consider the available evidence rather than assume a motive based on reports about someone’s health.
Fabiana’s Father Remembers a Loved Child
Kuldeep Singh, 36, was estranged from Cabello but remained in contact with her as they co-parented Fabiana.
Singh said he learned about his daughter’s condition through her grandmother and rushed to the hospital. There, he faced the loss of his young child.
He described Cabello as someone who cared for Fabiana very much and said he had not known of the mental health concerns mentioned by her family.
The conflicting accounts underline how much remains unknown about the family’s circumstances before the tragedy.
Singh has also started a fundraising campaign to help cover his daughter’s funeral expenses. The effort gives people an opportunity to support the family as they navigate the immediate financial and emotional burdens following the loss.
For a parent grieving a child, arrangements that would normally be part of family life can become difficult to manage amid shock, hospital visits and legal proceedings.
Murder Charge Moves Through the Courts
Cabello appeared in court on Friday, two days after the child was found, and entered a not-guilty plea. She remains in custody without bail and was scheduled to return to court on October 20.
The murder charge is an allegation, and Cabello is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
As the investigation continues, authorities may seek additional evidence to clarify the timeline, the medical circumstances of Fabiana’s death and the events that preceded the 911 call.
The pending cause-of-death determination may also become an important part of the case as prosecutors and defense attorneys evaluate the evidence.
A Family Faces an Unimaginable Loss
Fabiana was only five years old when her life ended, leaving her father and relatives to cope with a sudden and devastating loss.
The investigation has drawn attention to the importance of responding to emergencies involving children and ensuring that allegations are examined carefully through the legal process.
It has also raised questions about the family’s circumstances, although the available information does not yet provide a complete explanation of what happened.
For now, the criminal case remains ongoing, the medical cause of death has not been fully established in the initial reports, and Fabiana’s loved ones are preparing to say goodbye to a child whose death has changed their lives forever.
