By Sadef Ali Kully
A young mother was charged with tossing her three-week-old son out of the window at a Richmond Hill apartment building because she feared he was possessed by an evil spirit, the Queens district attorney said, even though an elected official pointed out that a medical center and police precinct were nearby.
According to the criminal complaint filed by the Queens DA’s office, Rashida Chowdhury, 21, threw her son Rizwan Ahmad from a bathroom window in their fourth-floor apartment at a little before 4 a.m. Aug. 7. The infant fell 42 feet into the courtyard of the building on the corner of 115th Street and Myrtle Avenue. Chowdhury, who faces murder charges, said she had to “stop the pain” in her statement to authorities, according to the complaint.
Police sources said the baby had been hospitalized for several days and returned home hours before his death. His condition was not known.
Emergency medical services pronounced the baby, born July 18, dead at the scene of the incident, police said.
A neighbor, who lives a couple of doors down, heard the incident occur and called 911, according to the criminal complaint.
“I woke up to feed my two-month-old baby and I heard a thump like a book hit the floor. I looked outside from the lobby and saw it was a baby. I screamed and then called 911,” Mazol Ilyayeva, 20, said.
Ilyayeva said she saw the Bangladeshi family leaving with the police.
Police said the husband, Mohamed Ahmed, 40, and a few other family members were taken in for questioning, but the mother was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center before her arrest.
State Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Richmond Hill), who came to the scene from his office just blocks away, said he was shocked by the tragedy.
“There are plenty of services here — community facilities, Richmond Hill library right here, churches, temples, the 102nd Precinct. When people have babies, if they need help, they take advantage. I think it is important to note that this is a lone incident and not reflective of the community.”
According to the criminal complaint and police officials, Chowdhury said the baby was possessed by an evil spirit.
The city medical examiner ruled the death a homicide and reported the baby had suffered a head fracture and lacerations of the brain, liver and spleen, according to the criminal complaint.
“This is a truly horrific and disturbing case. The alleged actions of the defendant are totally incomprehensible,” DA Richard Brown said.
Chowdhury was scheduled to be in court Sept. 10. if convicted, could face up to 25 years to life in prison.
Reach Reporter Sadef Ali Kully by e-mail at skull
