The 15-month-old, identified by relatives as Charlie Ramraykha, was pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
JAMAICA, N.Y. — New York City police are investigating the death of a 15-month-old boy found unresponsive Monday afternoon inside a Jamaica home, while his 28-year-old mother, discovered with slash wounds to her wrists, remains in custody for questioning, officials said.
The case moved forward Tuesday as detectives sought clarity on how the child died and whether a crime occurred. The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death, a ruling that will shape any charges. The scene on 157th Street near 109th Avenue drew officers from the 103rd Precinct, forensic teams and neighbors who described hearing screams moments before first responders arrived.
Officers were dispatched at about 1:30 p.m. Monday on a report of an assault. Inside, police found the young boy unconscious in a bathroom area and his mother bleeding from both wrists. Medics took them to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center; the child could not be saved. Blood seen on the child initially led responders to fear he had been stabbed, but police later said the boy had no obvious external wounds. “We’re working with the medical examiner to understand exactly what happened,” a department spokesperson said. Family members at the scene identified the child as Charlie Ramraykha and described the family as distraught and waiting for answers.
Neighbors said two distinct screams echoed just before sirens. “The first scream was a man, loud and angry, and then a child screaming in fear,” said Fateemah Akter, who lives nearby. Detectives conducted interviews up and down the block and checked for cameras pointed toward the front stoop and narrow hallway. Police said the home, a modest two-story house, was not known for prior serious incidents. The mother was listed in stable condition at the hospital. Investigators did not immediately describe a weapon and said they were still reconstructing the minutes before the 911 call.
The neighborhood sits along a corridor of southeast Queens marked by small single-family homes and corner stores. While the precinct handles many domestic calls, child fatalities remain uncommon, officers said. The timing during the holiday week complicated outreach, as some neighbors were away. Detectives were also examining whether the parents lived together full-time and whether any previous welfare checks or social service visits were logged to the address. Officials said results from preliminary toxicology or internal examinations might take longer than usual, given the lack of visible trauma.
By Tuesday morning, the mother had been moved from emergency care to a secure hospital unit while detectives consulted prosecutors on possible charges. Any filing, officials said, will follow the medical examiner’s findings and a fuller review of evidence collected inside the home. If the death is ruled a homicide, the case will shift to a specialized team within the Queens district attorney’s office that handles crimes against children. No arraignment or court date had been set by midday. Police planned to re-interview relatives and to return to the residence for additional swabs, photographs and measurements.
As investigators worked, residents left small bouquets near the front steps. A bodega clerk said he saw a man sprint toward the house before officers arrived. Another neighbor described the family as polite but private. “We shared a wave from the mailbox,” he said. “Seeing so many police cars and tape for a child, it’s just devastating.” Uniformed officers maintained a post at the house, and traffic slowed as drivers peered at the scene.
Officials said the investigation is active. The next update is expected after the medical examiner issues preliminary findings later Tuesday or Wednesday, which will drive any charging decisions and the case’s next steps.
Author note: Last updated December 30, 2025.