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Woman accused of killing 7-year son in Monroe County

Monroe County Sheriff's Dept. Photo

Authorities say a woman used a "large-bladed kitchen knife" to sever the head of her 7-year-old son in a home near Rochester Thursday night.

Monroe County officials arrested Hanane Mouhib, 36, after Abraham Cardenas was found dead in a home in the Town of Sweden, about 15 miles west of Rochester. She has been charged with second-degree murder.
 
Court papers say Mouhib used the knife to stab the boy in the upper back then cut his neck, severing his head.

Mouhib was taken in to custody after being pepper sprayed and tasered by deputies. Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said she refused to drop a large-bladed kitchen knife that was used to stab her son.

Three phone calls were placed to 911 about a suicidal female at a home on South Lake Road (pictured below). The third phone call had indicated someone had been injured. Investigators say Cardenas was killed before police arrived.

Baxter said they had been to the house in the past, but there was never an indication something like this would happen. 

"Early in 2017 I think we had been to the house. Those job cards are still waiting to be looked at and analyzed to see what we exactly did. There wasn't a whole lot of activity before 2017," said Baxter.

Mouhib had been in a mental health facility from March 8 until March 26. She was released from the facility with a care plan.

There were three other people inside the home at the time of the crime including Cardenas’ ten-year-old sibling. According to Baxter, none of them were hurt.

State records show Mouhib is a licensed nurse practitioner who specializes in mental health. She worked for Genesee Mental Health from January 2016 through January 2017.

Mouhib was arraigned and ordered held in county jail without bail pending further proceedings. A preliminary hearing will take place on April 11.

"This is a tragedy," said Baxter. "This is what occurs sometimes in our world. We are human beings and sometimes we create horrific scenarios we have to live through and process. This is one of them. I don't think you'll ever be able to put words on explanation to what occurred last night. None of us could."

Cardenas was a student in the Brockport Central School District. Superintendent Lesli Myers sent this statement:
 
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of our students. Abraham Cardenas was a first-grader at Barclay Elementary School. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Abraham’s family, friends and all affected by this tragedy. Any loss of life is a loss to our entire community. Our district’s Trauma, Illness and Grief team was immediately mobilized upon learning of this tragedy. We will have counselors available to provide support this weekend and throughout the week for students, staff and families in need."
 

Credit WXXI photo

 

Nick Lippa leads our Arts & Culture Coverage, and is also the lead reporter for the station's Mental Health Initiative, profiling the struggles and triumphs of those who battle mental health issues and the related stigma that can come from it.