Mom Charged With Beating Baby, Death Of Second Child Still Probed

AUBURNDALE, QUEENS — An Auburndale mother was charged Friday in the beating of her 13-month-old son amid an investigation into her baby daughter's death, officials said.

Tina Torabi, 30, is set to be arraigned on charges of assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child after police found the boy badly hurt and his 13-month-old sister unconscious in their Ashby Avenue home Wednesday night, the Queens District Attorney's Office said.

The girl, Elaina, was pronounced dead at Flushing Hospital and her brother, Kian, was hospitalized in critical condition after cops found them with severe body trauma at the house.

Kian had several bone fractures, contusions on his lungs, an adrenal hemorrhage and a healing bite mark, the Queens DA's office said. Elaina also suffered grisly injuries including bruises, burn marks and open wounds, according to the New York Daily News.

Torabi faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted, the DA's office said.

"The defendant’s alleged actions are incomprehensible. Unfortunately, her 13-month-old son suffered greatly in his short life," District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet determined the cause of Elaina's death, according to an agency spokeswoman.

Elaina's death came just two days after workers from the city's Administration for Children's Services checked in on the family and found no signs of abuse, the Daily News reported.

Torabi, who has an alleged history of drug use, was distraught as an ambulance arrived for her kids, according to the Daily News.

"I could never imagine that in a million years," neighbor Judanna Cavallo told the paper. "Absolutely a beautiful person who adored her children. They were always well kept, and nicely dressed, and well taken care of."

(Lead image: Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch)