Death Of Beaten Baby Girl In Queens Ruled A Homicide: NYPD

AUBURNDALE, QUEENS — The fatal beating of a baby girl in Queens in October has been ruled a homicide, authorities announced Tuesday. The 1-year-old girl and her twin brother were found severely beaten in their Auburndale home on Oct. 3.

The girl, Elaina Torabi, was pronounced dead at Flushing Hospital and her brother, Kian, was hospitalized in critical condition after police found the pair in their Ashby Avenue home. The cause of death was fatal child abuse syndrome, the medical examiner's office announced Tuesday.

“The term ‘fatal child abuse syndrome’ is used when a child sustains injuries over a period of time," Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson said in a statement.

The twins' mother, Tina Torabi, was charged with assault in connection to the boy's injuries. Shortly after the charges were announced, the twins' father, Mohammad Reza Torabi, leapt to his death from a Midtown Manhattan hotel. The charges had not been upgraded as of Mar. 5.

Kian had several bone fractures, contusions on his lungs, an adrenal hemorrhage and a healing bite mark, according to the Queens DA's office. Elaina suffered grisly injuries including bruises, burn marks and open wounds, the New York Daily News reported.

Elaina's death came just two days after workers from the city's Administration for Children's Services checked in on the family and found no signs of abuse, according to the Daily News.