Dearborn stabbing leaves mother dead and son arrested after history of mental illness

Man arrested in the stabbing that killed his mother in Dearborn

On Sunday night, Dearborn police were at a home on Reuter Street where a 70-year-old woman was stabbed to death, with the suspect being her own 36-year-old son with a history of violence and mental illness.

DEARBORN, Mich. (FOX 2) - A family tragedy unfolded in Dearborn where a mother is dead, and her son was arrested. It is a case involving both mental illness and domestic violence.

"They wanted to sell the house because she wanted to be closer to family," said Ali Khalifa. "I think it was due to her son's mental issues."

Khalifa recently purchased his home in neighboring Dearborn Heights from the victim, Jamila Alwan, who had lived there with her son. Relatives told Khalifa there had been problems.

"That he had mental issues and stuff like that and there was like a, sometimes, conflict with his mother, that's all we know," said Khalifa

Dearborn Heights police told FOX 2 they had three interactions with the son when they lived at the house, including one where he entered a neighbor's backyard and tried to strike the neighbor who restrained him and called police who took him to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Fast-forward to Sunday night at the new home in Dearborn where mother and son were living with other family members who were not home when the son allegedly stabbed his mother in the neck.

Police say officers arrived within three minutes of the 911 call. They tried CPR, but the victim could not be saved.

Dearborn's police chief released a statement saying, "We extend our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the victim. Senseless acts of this nature can shake the community to its core. We will continue this investigation diligently in order to deliver justice for the victim."

A tragic ending for a family dealing with both domestic violence and mental illness.

"It's sad for me to hear, but they're very nice people - she was a very nice lady from my impression," said Khalifa.

Dearborn police say the son is in custody and should be arraigned Tuesday or Wednesday. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, text or call 988 to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

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