A tragic loss in South Richmond Hill
A Queens neighborhood is reeling after the heartbreaking death of 5-year-old Fabiana Cabello. On Wednesday night, first responders were called to a home in South Richmond Hill, where they arrived to find the young girl unresponsive. According to Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Ruzza, the situation was so dire that police didn't wait for an ambulance; they rushed Fabiana to Jamaica Hospital in a patrol car, but she was later pronounced dead.
The investigation
Fabiana's 32-year-old mother, Francis Cabello, is now facing second-degree murder charges and is being held without bail. Prosecutors allege that the child had been healthy and active earlier that evening. Francis allegedly took her daughter into a second-floor bedroom, locked the door, and emerged 45 minutes later to call 911, chillingly telling the operator, "I killed my daughter."
An autopsy conducted by Dr. Lin of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed a heartbreaking list of injuries, including brain swelling and signs of asphyxiation. Neighbors and those nearby described the scene as devastating, noting the sudden police presence and the silence of the mother during her arrest.
A family in mourning
Outside of court, Fabiana’s grandfather, Franklin Cabello, spoke about the family's grief. He expressed that they are physically and mentally destroyed, sharing, "As a family, we feel mentally and physically destroyed. We can’t think [clearly] but we put our confidence in God." He also noted that he believes the mother was struggling with her mental state at the time of the incident.
Why it matters
This is a heavy situation that has left a local community in shock. As the legal process moves forward, the family is left to grapple with the loss of a young girl, highlighting the deep tragedy behind the headlines.
