WASHINGTON — A Montgomery County woman forced her 5-year-old son to drink an entire bottle of medicine, which killed him, and then with the dead boy inside set her car on fire to cover up the crime, police say.
Narges Shafeirad, 33, was charged Thursday with first-degree murder and arson in the death of her son Daniel Dana.
Police say that before setting the white 1993 Toyota Corolla on fire, Shafeirad had poisoned her son with a high dose of Diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine found in allergy and cough medicine.
Captain Darren Francke said the boy was given an entire bottle of over-the-counter medication.
“How much problem can a 5-year-old be?” said Francke, who leads the the Montgomery County Police Department’s major crimes unit.
Investigators say they believe Shafeirad started the fire in the front seat area of the car to cover up the poisoning and death of her boy.
Daniel’s official cause of death was Diphenhydramine intoxication, according to police.
Rescuers found Shafeirad outside the burning Toyota Corolla screaming in pain when they arrived near Sam Eig Highway and Fields Road about 3:30 a.m. on June 16. She had suffered serious burns to 40 percent of her body and was taken to the hospital. Daniel, who was in the back seat, was already dead, police now say.
An attorney for Shafeirad says that she was a caring and devoted mother and that she and her husband are in the middle of a divorce.
Sarfeirad remains in the hospital but will be taken to the county jail upon her release, police say.
“How much problem can a 5 y/o be?” @mcpnews Capt Francke MOCO Mom charged w murder&arson of son. pic.twitter.com/KaW91jVLQi
— Kate Ryan (@KateRyanWTOP) July 31, 2015
