A 5-year-old girl has died after being found unresponsive inside a Queens home, and her mother is now facing murder charges in connection with the child’s death, according to police.
Authorities identified the mother as 32-year-old Francis Cabello, who was arrested Thursday following an incident at a residence on 110th Street in South Richmond Hill, New York.
Police said the girl was found unconscious and unresponsive, with blood around her mouth and nose. According to police sources, Cabello called 911 shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday and allegedly told the dispatcher that she had killed her daughter.
Emergency medical personnel rushed the child to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in critical condition. She was later pronounced dead, police said.
Investigators secured the home as a crime scene while authorities began examining the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. The medical examiner’s office is expected to determine the official cause of death.
The case has left the girl’s family and neighbors struggling to understand how a young child’s life ended so suddenly.
Father Remembers His Daughter’s Final Moments
Kuldeep Singh, the girl’s father, described his daughter as affectionate, caring and full of love. Speaking about their last time together, he recalled how she repeatedly hugged and kissed him.
“She was kissing me like 100 times,” Singh said. “She was chasing me, saying, ‘I love you. I miss you.'”
The memories have made the loss especially painful for Singh, who said he feels as though he has lost everything.
Despite the allegations, he said he believed the child’s mother loved their daughter deeply and thought the incident may have been an accident.
The girl, identified as Fabiana Cabello, lived with her mother and maternal grandparents, according to the family.
For relatives, the investigation now unfolds alongside the difficult task of coming to terms with the death of a child they loved.
Grandfather Describes What Happened Before Police Arrived
Franklin Cabello, the girl’s maternal grandfather, recalled seeing his daughter take Fabiana into a bedroom before police arrived.
He said the bedroom door was closed and that he did not see what happened inside.
“I see nothing. She was inside the bedroom. She closed the door. We see nothing,” he said.
He added that he did not understand the decision his daughter had made.
His account highlights the unanswered questions facing investigators as they work to establish what happened inside the home before emergency services were called.
Family Raises Concerns About Mental Health Treatment
Franklin Cabello said his daughter had been receiving treatment for mental health issues and had been prescribed medication.
He told reporters that she had stopped taking the medication, although the circumstances surrounding her treatment and medication use have not been independently established.
The family had not expected the events of Wednesday evening, he said.
Mental health conditions can be complex, and a person’s diagnosis or medication history alone cannot establish why a particular incident occurred. Investigators will need to determine the facts surrounding the case rather than rely on assumptions about the mother’s health.
Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the alleged killing.
Neighbors Mourn the Young Girl
News of Fabiana’s death also affected people in the surrounding neighborhood, where children had played together.
Emmanuel Rosario, who knew the girl through his cousin, expressed sadness over the loss.
“She used to play here with my cousin and now she won’t,” Rosario said.
For neighbors, the news has brought grief and disbelief, particularly because Fabiana was so young.
The case has also renewed attention on the importance of recognizing when families may be struggling and ensuring that people experiencing mental health difficulties can access appropriate professional support. However, the full circumstances of this particular case remain under investigation.
Investigation Continues
Francis Cabello was arrested Thursday and is facing murder charges, police said. The allegations against her have not been fully tested in court, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The medical examiner’s office will determine the official cause of Fabiana’s death, while investigators continue working to establish the sequence of events inside the home.
Important questions remain unanswered, including what led to the emergency call and what occurred before the child was found unresponsive.
For Fabiana’s family, the immediate reality is the loss of a 5-year-old child whose father remembers her final moments together as filled with affection and love.
As investigators work to establish what happened, the family and community are left grieving a young life cut short.
