Tina Torabi, 30, faces up to 12 years in prison.
May 10, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
A Flushing mother pleaded guilty yesterday to manslaughter in the death of her 13-month-old daughter and to assault relating to the injuries sustained by the toddler’s twin brother, the Queens District Attorney’s Office announced.
On Oct. 3, 2018, the mother, 30-year-old Tina Torabi of the Aurburndale section of Flushing, called 911 reporting that her daughter, Elaina, was unresponsive. EMS arrived on the scene and transported Elaina to Flushing Hospital Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.
While at the home, first responders found a gruesome scene. Elaina’s twin brother was found to be severely bruised and beaten. He had sustained several severe and painful injuries including multiple rib fractures, contusions on his lungs, a fractured pelvis, a bite mark, a tibia fracture, and adrenal hemorrhage.
Down inside the home’s basement, described by the DA as deplorable and unsanitary, three more siblings, ages 5, 4, and 2, were found unattended. All four remaining children were transported to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. There, the 13-month-old boy received treatment for his injuries.
A medical examiner later ruled Elaina’s death a homicide as a result of fatal child abuse syndrome—repeated episodes of physical assault or neglect that ultimately result in death.
“Babies are defenseless,” said Acting Queens District Attorney John M. Ryan. “They rely on their parents to be their everything – for food and water, for care and love. The mother in this horrible case failed miserably. Her legal duty was to protect her children from harm and injury, that includes seeking medical attention promptly when one is hurt or in harm’s way. The defendant in this case grossly neglected to perform these duties and because of her lack of care the 13-month-old baby girl is dead and her twin brother has suffered immense pain.
Torabi’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 30. She will be sentenced to four to 12 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and eight and a half years on the assault charge. The sentences will run concurrently.
“The expected sentence of the Court is just and punishes the defendant – giving her ample time to dwell on the failures that led to her own child’s death and the other baby’s suffering,” Ryan said.
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