(NEW YORK POST) – Authorities in Oklahoma were searching Tuesday for a mother accused of tying up her children, stabbing her 11-year-old daughter, then setting her home on fire and fleeing with her 8-year-old daughter.
Tulsa police said Taheerah Ahmad, 39, allegedly bound and gagged her three daughters on Monday at the family’s home on Mohawk Boulevard. Ahmad’s 8-year-old daughter, identified by police as Hafsa Hayle, helped her 9-year-old sister escape when Ahmad starting stabbing the 11-year-old girl, police said.
The middle child managed to slip away to a nearby home to get help, Tulsa World reports. When police arrived, they found the kitchen had been set on fire.
The 11-year-old girl suffered so many stab wounds that emergency responders “couldn’t even count them,” Tulsa Police Officer Jeanne MacKenzie told the newspaper. The girl was listed in critical condition when she was rushed to a hospital late Monday. Her condition Tuesday was not immediately clear.
The 9-year-old girl — whose identity wasn’t disclosed by police — told cops that Ahmad had duct-taped their hands and stuffed socks in their mouths during the attack.
Police believe Ahmad took off with 8-year-old Hayle — who may be in serious danger — in a black Lexus RX300 with paper tags. Ahmad has curly black hair with gold streaks, while her daughter was last seen wearing an ankle-length peach dress, police said.
No reports of child abuse or domestic abuse were found in connection with the family, MacKenzie said, although she noted “some issues” had been discussed within the family. She did not elaborate.
It’s unclear where Ahmad may be headed, although a police spokeswoman told reporters Monday that she had previously lived in Tennessee and Texas, ABC News reports.
Investigators are worried Ahmad may be dealing with mental health problems.
“That’s our concern right now, that she’s having some kind of mental health episode,” MacKenzie told The Post early Tuesday. “The 9-year-old girl did make some statements about her mother talking about angels and devils, so we’re obviously concerned for her and her daughter’s well-being.”
Police have issued an Amber Alert for the girl and asked anyone with information about their whereabouts to call authorities at (918) 596-2627.
