Mubashra Uddin: Woman Throws Newborn Baby From 8th-Story Window, Gets Probation, $579 Fine

Mubashra Uddin, a Chicago woman who threw her newborn baby to her death from an 8th-floor window, has been sentenced to probation and a $579 fine, WLS (Chicago) is reporting.

Uddin, now 21, was just 19 years old when she tossed the newborn infant out of the window from her home in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Initially, she was charged with first-degree murder. However, last week, she took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Judge Carol Howard sentenced Uddin to 48 months’ probation, a $579 fine, and she was credited for the 603 days served in the Cook County Jail.

At about 11:15 p.m. on November 11, 2015, a passer-by heard muffled cries coming from the bushes in front of the apartment building. He or she found the naked, bloody baby still breathing but barely alive. The stranger wrapped up the baby in blankets and called an ambulance, but the infant died 90 minutes later at a nearby hospital.

According to Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Turnock, the baby had skull fractures, a fractured spine, a fractured left shoulder, fractured ribs, a lacerated aorta, and damage to other internal organs.

So why did Uddin get such a seemingly light sentence for such a heinous crime? It seems that the judge took into consideration Uddin’s culture, upbringing, and state of mind when she committed this crime.

Uddin is the daughter of a Pakistani Muslim immigrant family, and she was pregnant with the baby of her boyfriend, of whom her parents didn’t approve. Further, she was also afraid that her parents would disown her when they found out she was pregnant. She hid her pregnancy by wearing baggy clothes.

A friend of Uddin’s wrote to the court that the pressure from her family put Uddin in a place where she didn’t understand right from wrong.

“At that moment she probably wasn’t thinking and she cracked… because the Mubashra I know wouldn’t do something like this if she was in right state of mind.”

Uddin’s attorney, Barry Sheppard, echoed similar sentiments.

“Standing before you is someone who is heartbroken and sad…. She is a confused, older teenager. She’s extremely contrite. She’s saddened. She’s been crying.”

Uddin’s parents, for their parts, haven’t spoken publicly about the case. They’ve appeared at every court appearance, says her attorney, and they “support her 100 percent.”

Do you believe Mubashra Uddin got the right sentence for killing her infant daughter?

[Featured Image by Cook County Sheriff’s Department/AP]