26-Year-Old Dad Convicted of Baby’s Murder Dies Mysteriously Just Hours After Release

Lifestyle
Paul Johns
February 14, 2025
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7 minutes read

@naomimagness/Instagram

Tragedy has taken another shocking turn in the case of 8-month-old Jannah Abughazaleh, who died in August 2024 after suffering second and third-degree burns in a bathtub at her home in Sacramento County, California. Her parents, Hussein Abughazaleh, 26, and Kristina Siedlecki, 25, were accused of neglecting to seek medical attention for their daughter, ultimately leading to her death.

Authorities allege that the couple was fully aware of their daughter’s worsening condition but chose not to take her to a hospital out of fear of being arrested and having Child Protective Services (CPS) intervene. “What they disclosed to me during the investigation was the fact that they knew she was dying, and they didn’t take her into the hospital because they didn’t want to get arrested and they didn’t want CPS to get involved in their family,” Detective Leslie Trau told KCRA in December 2024.

The parents were arrested and charged with murder in December. But now, just two months later, Jannah’s father is also dead. According to KCRA, Abughazaleh suffered a medical emergency while in jail on January 26, 2025. He was taken to a hospital, where medical staff determined he had a “grave prognosis.” On February 7, a judge granted him a compassionate release from custody, and he died just hours later.

The cause of his death remains unclear. A compassionate release, as explained by the United States Sentencing Commission, is granted when “extraordinary and compelling reasons” justify an early release, ensuring that any reduction in sentencing aligns with established legal guidelines.

Meanwhile, Jannah’s mother, Kristina Siedlecki, remains in jail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 2. The heartbreaking case has drawn attention to whether warning signs were missed. Jannah’s grandmother, Naomi Magness, had voiced concerns about her safety long before she was born. She told KCRA that she contacted CPS and a child abuse hotline in an attempt to protect the infant but was unable to intervene in time.

“I don’t want anybody to go through this,” Magness said. She later learned of Jannah’s death after reaching out to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the coroner’s office.

“You should have taken the baby out. She lost her life. She didn’t even have a chance to live a life, and you screwed up not taking the baby out,” Magness said. Sacramento County officials have declined to comment on the case, citing legal and confidentiality guidelines.