Sacramento mom convicted after her 8-month-old daughter suffers severe burns and dies. Then investigators reveal why she never called 911

On Oct. 1, a Sacramento County jury convicted 26-year-old Kristina Huemann Sidelecki of second-degree murder following the death of her eight-month-old daughter, Jannah Ali Abughazaleh, who suffered severe burns that went untreated for days.

According to the California Post, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said the tragedy began when Siedlecki’s husband, Hussein Ali Abughazaleh, placed the infant in a bathtub filled with dangerously hot water. When Siedlecki arrived home, she found Jannah still in the tub. The baby’s skin had turned bright red and later began peeling and blistering.

Medical examinations found that Jannah had second- and third-degree burns covering as much as 35% of her body. The injuries stretched from her mid-back across her buttocks and genital area and down the backs of her legs to her heels.

The child’s death was preventable

Neither parent sought medical attention for Jannah in the days that followed. Investigators later obtained Siedlecki’s phone records and found internet searches suggesting that she understood the danger of leaving the burns untreated.

Even so, she did not take her daughter to a hospital. Prosecutors said Siedlecki feared that getting medical help would result in her arrest and CPS becoming involved.

On the morning of Aug. 25, 2024, Jannah’s condition suddenly deteriorated. Her breathing changed, her body went limp and she eventually became unresponsive. Prosecutors said that instead of calling emergency services, Siedlecki spent those critical moments browsing social media.

Her husband also waited before seeking help. He reportedly spent about 45 minutes before messaging a friend for advice rather than calling emergency services. Jannah died later that day from complications caused by her burns.

The investigation continued for months after the infant’s death. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Child Abuse Bureau waited for the coroner’s autopsy report, which ultimately determined that Jannah’s death was a homicide. Both parents were arrested and held without bail in December 2024.

Hussein Abughazaleh never stood trial for his role in his daughter’s death. While awaiting prosecution at the Sacramento County Main Jail, he suffered a sudden medical emergency on Jan. 26, 2025. Hospital physicians later gave him a serious medical prognosis, and a judge granted him a compassionate release. He died outside custody on Feb. 7, 2025, at the age of 26.

The case also brought attention to the family’s history with CPS. Reporting from local outlets including KCRA 3 shed light on concerns raised before Jannah was born. Her paternal grandmother, Naomi Magness, said she had contacted CPS because she was worried about domestic safety.

A later review of redacted records found that the household had been flagged by an automated safety system as “high-risk” for child abuse. Part of that designation reportedly came from previous abuse allegations against the father involving another child.

She faces a maximum sentence of 15 years

Despite recommendations for removal or stricter intervention, the agency did not take further action.

Siedlecki has remained in custody since late 2024. Following her conviction, she faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Alyson Lewis.