Location: Richmond Hill, Queens, New York City, New York
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Accused: Francis Cabello, 32, the child's mother
Charges: Murder
Status: Arraigned October 16, 2026; held without bail
Fabiana Cabello, a 5-year-old girl from Richmond Hill, Queens, in New York City, died on the evening of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after police were called to her family's home about a reported assault. Her mother, 32-year-old Francis Cabello, has been arrested and charged with murder in the little girl's death, according to the New York Police Department.
Francis Cabello appeared before a judge on Friday, October 16, and was ordered held without bail. She has not been convicted of any crime and is presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty in court.
Who Was Fabiana Cabello?
Fabiana was 5 years old and lived with her family in a home on 110th Street in the Richmond Hill section of Queens. Very little about her personal life has been made public so far, but the picture neighbors have shared with local reporters is of a cheerful child who spent a lot of time outdoors.
One neighbor told ABC7 New York that the girl was "always happy," and remembered seeing her riding a bicycle and a scooter outside throughout the summer.
What Happened in Richmond Hill, Queens?
According to police accounts reported by FOX 5 New York and ABC7 New York, officers responded on Wednesday evening, October 14, to a 911 call about an assault inside the home. ABC7 reported that officers arrived shortly before 7 p.m. A relative interviewed by the station recalled police arriving closer to 6:30 p.m., so the exact time is not fully settled in public reports.
Officers found Fabiana unresponsive inside the house. She was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. ABC7 reported that she died shortly before 7:30 p.m. Police are investigating her death as a homicide.
FOX 5 New York, citing sources, reported that the mother was the person who called 911. ABC7 reported that she allegedly told the operator, "I killed my daughter." These statements come from reports about the call and have not been tested in court.
Fabiana's grandfather, Franklin Cabello, told ABC7 that he was in the house at the time but did not know anything was wrong until officers arrived. "She was in the bedroom, closed the door. We saw nothing," he told the station. ABC7 also reported that Francis Cabello was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation after police arrived.
Has Anyone Been Arrested?
Yes. The NYPD said Francis Cabello was arrested and charged with murder on the night of Thursday, October 15. She was arraigned the following day, Friday, October 16, in criminal court before Judge Jennifer Saint-Preux, who ordered her held without bail, ABC7 reported.
Being charged is not the same as being found guilty. Francis Cabello is accused of the crime, and under the law she is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charge against her in court. No defense statement had been reported at the time of writing.
What Police and Investigators Have Said
Police have not publicly described what happened inside the home in the hours before the 911 call, FOX 5 New York reported. The New York City medical examiner has not yet released a final cause of death; ABC7 reported that the cause is pending further study, and FOX 5 reported that the medical examiner's office is still investigating.
Investigators have not announced any other suspects, and nothing in the public reporting so far suggests anyone else is being sought in connection with Fabiana's death.
What Happens Next
The case is now in the hands of the Queens District Attorney's Office. In New York, prosecutors in a felony case generally have to present evidence to a grand jury, which decides whether to return an indictment before the case can move to trial. A final ruling from the medical examiner on the cause of death is also expected to play a role as the case moves forward. No future court date had been reported publicly at the time of writing, and MotiveX will follow the case as new filings and hearings take place.
Anyone in New York State who is worried that a child is being harmed can call the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment at 1-800-342-3720. In an emergency, call 911.
Timeline of the Fabiana Cabello Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026 (evening) | Police respond to a 911 call reporting an assault at a home on 110th Street in Richmond Hill, Queens, and find 5-year-old Fabiana Cabello unresponsive. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026 | Fabiana is pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital. Police open a homicide investigation. |
| Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 | The NYPD arrests her mother, Francis Cabello, 32, and charges her with murder. |
| Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 | Francis Cabello is arraigned before Judge Jennifer Saint-Preux and held without bail. |
| Pending | The medical examiner's final ruling on the cause of death and the next court date have not yet been announced. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is charged in Fabiana Cabello's death?
Her mother, Francis Cabello, 32, is charged with murder, according to the NYPD. She has not been convicted and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Where did the case happen?
Police were called to the family's home on 110th Street in Richmond Hill, Queens, in New York City, on Wednesday evening, October 14, 2026.
Is Francis Cabello in custody?
Yes. ABC7 New York reported that she was arraigned on Friday, October 16, and ordered held without bail.
What was Fabiana Cabello's cause of death?
A final cause of death has not been released. Reports from ABC7 and FOX 5 New York say the medical examiner is still investigating.
MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.
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