Mother Charged With Stabbing Murder of 5-Day-Old Baby

Police car. Nick Starichenko/Shutterstock

A mother has been charged with stabbing her 5-day-old daughter to death in their New Jersey apartment, according to police.

Hiralbahen Bhavsar, 29, was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes on May 3 after authorities discovered her newborn baby had died from “sharp force injuries” the night before, reported PIX 11, citing police.

Prosecutors said Bhavsar called 911 at around 8:30 p.m. to alert them of a medical emergency.

According to an affidavit, she initially told operators that she was undergoing some chest pains then after a brief moment she told the operator that “someone was trying to kill her,” reported northjersey.com.

“She then stated that it was in fact her husband who was trying to kill her and that he was presently armed with a knife and in the living room of their apartment,” the affidavit said.

Once police officers arrived at the scene they found Bhavsar had locked herself in the bedroom and proceeded to handcuff her husband Jaymin Bhavsar. Family members who were there yelled at police: “No, no, not him.”

“At this time, Hiralbahen [Bhavsar] exited a rear bedroom and began stating, ‘No, no not him. I did it. I killed my baby,” according to the affidavit, reported the news website.

That was when police discovered the “lifeless body” of her newborn, according to NJ.com. The infant appeared to have knife wounds to her throat and arm.

When police questioned Bhavsar, she told them that she “didn’t want her baby,” according to northjersey.com.

A neighbor, Aradhana Thakur, told PIX 11 that it is unclear whether Bhavsar was suffering from postpartum depression.

“I saw her yesterday and she was looking OK, normal,” Thakur told the news broadcaster. “But I think she must be going through some sort of depression because no mother could do this to her child.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, postpartum depression is a form of depression that occurs after childbirth, which usually involves symptoms of feeling worried, sadness, and tiredness. Research shows that one in nine women experience symptoms of postpartum depression, where estimates differ by age and ethnicity, according to the agency.

Other symptoms of postpartum depression include crying more often than usual, feelings of anger, withdrawing from loved ones, feeling distant from your baby, worrying or feeling overly anxious, thinking about hurting yourself or your baby, and doubting your ability to care for your baby.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention LifelineExternal at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for free and confidential crisis counseling available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY: 1-800-799-4889. Online chat External is also available 24/7.