A Chicago mom is facing murder charges after allegedly killing her infant. Tatiana Maxwell was arrested shortly after she allegedly stabbed her 2-month-old daughter and then tried to escape the crime scene by going out a window. A lot of things about the killing have yet to be revealed, but police have said the investigation is ongoing. Maxwell, however, has already been charged with her daughter’s death and court hearings have begun. Currently, Maxwell is undergoing a psychological evaluation, which could give law enforcement insight into how or why the killing occurred.
Details about who reported the stabbing have not been shared.
Officers with the Chicago Police Department arrived at 8:45 a.m. on May 15, 2026, a news release announced, with police moving quickly to arrest and charge Maxwell. She has been charged with one felony count of first-degree murder and another felony count of murder – strong probability death/injure.
After allegedly stabbing her baby, the 25-year-old jumped out a second story window, WLS reported. She was injured when she landed and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center. Police arrested her at the hospital.
Her baby girl, identified as Nyhnia Stovall, was taken to Comer Children’s hospital, where she was declared dead.
Police recovered a knife at the scene, the outlet reported. No additional injuries were reported.
A witness spoke to Fox 32 Chicago about the incident.
“I didn’t see it (the baby) bleeding, but it looked limp and after that, they put two kids in the squad car… they took off and then, at that point, more squad cars came and two ambulances,” the witness said. “Then I saw the lady hit the ground. I didn’t see where she jumped from, but I did see her hit the ground and then fall on her side.”
According to The Chicago Tribune, the baby girl had a puncture wound in her little chest. It was that outlet that reported Maxwell was the girl’s mother.
Maxwell is still being held, and her mental state is being evaluated.
A court hearing took place on May 17, but Maxwell was not in attendance, just her lawyers, CBS News Chicago reported. According to police, she is still in the hospital getting a psychological evaluation.
The horrific details of the baby’s death, however, were revealed by prosecutors during the hearing.
Nyhnia was stabbed to death around 7:20 a.m. According to prosecutors, Maxwell, Nyhnia, and the baby’s biological father were in an apartment in the Chicago complex, CBS News Chicago reported. Maxwell took Nyhnia out of her bassinet and threatened to kill her.
At one point, Maxwell barricaded herself in the apartment. She then reportedly stabbed the baby girl in the chest, killing her, per CBS News Chicago.
Maxwell apologized for her actions, saying “I did not mean it” before asking for forgiveness. She was expected to appear for a full detention hearing on May 18.
