NYC mom who told 911 she killed 5-year-old daughter had been ‘acting strange’ for months: family

By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-10-15 22:21:22 | Updated at 2026-10-15 22:59:25 42 minutes ago

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The mentally ill Queens mom arrested for killing her 5-year-old daughter was off her meds and had been hospitalized just three months ago, the woman’s distraught father told The Post.

Francis Cabello, who had “psychological issues,” was in her room with the door closed at her South Richmond Hill home Wednesday when police and EMS stormed into the apartment – the first indication that something had gone terribly wrong, the woman’s father said.

Despite efforts to save little Fabiana Cabello’s life, the youngster died at Jamaica Hospital.

Five-year-old Fabiana was found unconscious inside her Queens home and was pronounced dead, as her mother Francis Cabello was accused of Fabiana’s murder. Obtained by NY Post
A photo shows 5-year-old Fabiana Cabello on Oct. 15, 2026. Obtained by NY Post

“I knew mentally she wasn’t 100% there,” said dad Franklin Cabello, who was home at the time. “I knew something was wrong. When a person stops taking medicine for the sickness that she had, the person is going to suffer.

“I wouldn’t say that she would be capable of doing damage to the child because she’s a mom that was protective over her kid. She was attentive. I never would have thought she would have done something like this,” he said. “The family is distraught.”

Francis Cabello had called 911 herself and delivered a chilling confession to the dispatcher: “I killed my daughter,” law enforcement sources said.

When cops arrived at the house they found her outside.

“She’s upstairs not breathing,” the troubled mom told police, according to sources.

She was being questioned by police late Thursday and charges are pending.

was off her meds and had been hospitalized just three months ago, the woman’s distraught father told The Post. Brigitte Stelzer for NY Post

Franklin Cabello said he had been trying to keep an eye on his daughter, and worried that her mental health was spiraling out of control after she stopped taking medication.

“I was paying attention because she was already acting strange,” he said. “I knew that she stopped taking the medication. I used to tell her to take her medication. She said the doctor authorized her to stop taking the medicine.

“I found it hard to believe because in her predicament I was surprised that the doctor would authorize that without seeing her,” he added. “I did not know if it was true or false.”

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