A Queens mother is facing a murder charge in the death of her 15-month-old son after she was found in a locked bathroom with the lifeless child last month, authorities said.
Nicole Boodhai, 28, has been indicted on one count of second-degree murder in the death of her son, Charlie Ramraykha, officials said. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years to life in prison, according to authorities.
The incident took place on Dec. 29, after the child’s father left the family home on 157th Street around 8 a.m. for work, while Boodhai, the toddler and other relatives remained inside, according to the Queens district attorney’s office.
The father returned at 10:45 a.m. and saw Boodhai and the child still asleep, authorities said. After leaving again, he later received a call from Boodhai, who allegedly told him she had killed their son and intended to take her own life, officials said.
The child's father then contacted his mother, who lived on the first floor of the two-story residence, and asked her to check on Boodhai and Ramraykha, according to prosecutors.
When the grandmother went upstairs, she found the bathroom door locked, officials said. She was able to open it with another relative's help, according to the authorities. They discovered a bloodied Boodhai in the bathtub, holding the unresponsive child in her arms, prosecutors said.
Officers from the NYPD’s 103rd Precinct responded to the scene and attempted to resuscitate the toddler, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, officials said. Boodhai was also taken to a hospital for treatment of wrist injuries and psychiatric observation, according to authorities.
“By all accounts, Charlie was a healthy and vivacious toddler,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a statement on Wednesday. “The investigation into the manner of the child’s death is ongoing and we extend our sincere condolences to Charlie’s family as they mourn this unimaginable loss.”
Boodhai was arraigned on Wednesday in Queens Supreme Court and remanded. She is scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 19.
Attorney information for Boodhai was not immediately available.
