July 10, 2023, started as a normal day in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota—but sadly, it ended in a heartbreaking tragedy that no parent should ever experience.
Almost two years later, the criminal case tied to the chilling events of that day has come to an end—with a punishment that many are calling "far too lenient".
On the evening of July 10, 2023, police were called to a home on River Road after they received a call about an unresponsive child.
When officers arrived, they found Suad Mohamed Ali, 29, sitting calmly on the couch while first responders desperately tried to revive her 3-year-old daughter.
According to court documents obtained by Law&Crime, Ali confessed multiple times to the responding officers, telling them, “I killed her.”
What’s even more disturbing is that first responders said Ali “smiled the entire time” as medics desperately performed CPR
The little girl was rushed to Essentia St. Mary’s Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
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| Suad Mohamed Ali |
During questioning, Ali told criminal investigators that she first punched her daughter in the throat and then laid on top of her to make her stop crying.
She then confessed that when the child wouldn’t stop crying, she tried to stab her—but that didn’t work.
So, she went on to suffocate the child until she finally stopped crying and died.
Crime scene technicians later found a knife on the couch, backing up her claim about the attempted stabbing.
Ali also explained that the girl’s father had abandoned them, and she was struggling to care for her daughter alone, which probably overwhelmed her.
According to police reports, her mother usually helped her out but sadly, she wasn’t home on that fateful day.
On June 24, 2025, Ali was sentenced to 12½ years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder without intent.
Due to Minnesota’s sentencing laws, she could serve as little as six years with good behavior, as per Law&Crime.
During her sentencing, Judge Sharon Grewell-Benson acknowledged that Ali had severe mental health struggles, noting she wasn’t taking her prescribed medication at the time of the crime.
While this played a role in the final sentence, many are now questioning whether justice was truly served.
"This case is a tragic reminder of how mental health crises can spiral into unthinkable acts," said a local criminal justice advocate.
"But it also raises tough questions about accountability," they added.
Residents of Pelican Rapids are still grappling with the horror of what happened.
While Ali’s sentence may seem lenient to some, others argue that her mental illness played a significant role.
Still, no ruling can undo the loss of an innocent child.
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