Uncle says Dallas-area Mom accused of choking her 2 kids, killing son, was depressed

Uncle: Mom accused in kids’ chokings depressed

IRVING, Texas — A Dallas-area mother suspected of strangling a 5-year-old son with a wire and nearly choking to death a 2-year-old daughter who was on life support Tuesday had been depressed, according to a relative.

Saiqa Akhter, 30, remained in jail on Tuesday as police prepared a charge of capital murder. Irving police spokesman David Tull said she was expected to be arraigned on Wednesday. Tull said she has been cooperating with the investigation.

“It looks like she had mental problems. I don’t understand why she did it,” Wasimul Haque, an uncle of Akhter, told The Dallas Morning News.

Irving police have said Akhter called 911 on Monday and said she had done “something terrible” to her children.” Her son, Zain Akhter, was later pronounced dead. The Dallas County Medical Examiners Office said Tuesday that his death has been ruled a homicide by strangulation.

Haque said the daughter, Faryaal Akhter, was on life support and was not expected to live.

The mother was the only adult in the apartment at the time, police said.

When she called 911, Akhter said that she had used a wire on her children’s necks and both had turned blue, according to an affidavit for a search and arrest warrant released by police Tuesday. It said police found the children in a bedroom.

“It is very, very tragic,” Haque said. “We are in the deep sadness.”

Haque said his niece had been depressed since the family moved into a new apartment in Irving.

He said the children’s father, Rashid Akhter, is “totally broken” and is so distraught that he’s been unable to talk.

Haque said Zain had autism and a severe speech impediment, but had been improving and was in speech therapy.

The family is trying to get Saiqa Akhter an attorney, Haque said. Haque did not immediately return a message Tuesday from The Associated Press.

Saiqa Akhter and her husband had contact with Child Protective Services in May 2009 after leaving the boy home alone when they took the girl to the hospital with respiratory problems.

“They admitted to it and they said they understand why it was dangerous to leave a child that young at home by themselves,” CPS spokeswoman Marissa Gonzales said. “They said they had been really concerned about their daughter and so they just hadn’t been thinking but they were adamant that it wouldn’t happen again.”

She said neither child showed any signs of neglect or abuse.

“They were in very good condition,” she said. “Everyone else that we spoke to about the family indicated that they had no concerns at all about the care of the children.”