A Kentucky woman, aged 40, has been indicted on charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault, and first-degree criminal abuse of a victim under 12 years old. Zeinad Abdi is accused of attacking her 6-year-old daughter with a hammer, causing severe injuries, in an incident that took place in front of the child’s sibling. The indictment was handed down by a Jefferson County grand jury, as announced by Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney Gerina D. Whethers.
Abdi had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and domestic violence during her arraignment on June 20. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on June 19, when Louisville Metro Police Department’s 2nd Division responded to a distress call from a residence on Wilson Avenue. The police were informed that a child had been assaulted with a hammer by her mother.
Upon arrival, first responders found a 6-year-old girl with severe head injuries, including multiple skull fractures and brain bleeds. The child, whose identity has not been disclosed, was rushed to Norton Children’s Hospital in critical condition. Given the severity of the injuries, the police department’s homicide unit took over the investigation. Abdi was subsequently arrested in connection with the alleged assault.
According to the police report, Abdi admitted during a post-Miranda statement that she often struggles with extreme anger and self-control. She confessed to striking her daughter multiple times with a hammer in a fit of rage. The victim’s brother, whose identity and age have not been revealed, corroborated this account, stating that Abdi had attempted to continue the assault even after he had restrained her.
The victim has since been released from the hospital and is currently staying with relatives. The news of the assault shocked the local community, with neighbors expressing disbelief and horror at the allegations. Abdi is currently being held at the Louisville Metro Detention Center on a $500,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court for her indictment arraignment in Jefferson County Circuit Court on Monday morning.