A Love Gone Wrong
In a shocking turn of events, Aliya Fakhri, the sister of Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri, has been indicted for allegedly setting fire to her ex-boyfriend’s home, killing him and a female friend.
According to prosecutors, Fakhri’s motive was a rejection of her attempts to rekindle their romance.
The Deadly Fire
On the fateful day, Fakhri, 43, arrived at her ex-boyfriend Edward Jacobs’ home in Jamaica, Queens, at around 6:20 a.m. and yelled “You’re all going to die today!” before setting the detached garage on fire. The building quickly became engulfed in flames, trapping Jacobs, 35, and his friend Anastasia Ettienne, 33, inside.
A Desperate Attempt to Escape
Ettienne, realizing the danger, ran downstairs and then back upstairs to try and save Jacobs, who was sleeping on the second floor of the garage. Tragically, neither of them could escape the raging inferno. The victims died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.
A History of Rejection
According to Jacobs’ mother, Janet, her son had broken up with Fakhri about a year ago. “Like any other person that is being rejected, he was letting her know like ‘Yo, I’m done with you. Get away from me,'” she told the New York Post. Despite Jacobs’ efforts to move on, Fakhri allegedly continued to harass him, refusing to accept the rejection.
Leaving Behind a Family
Jacobs leaves behind three young sons, 11-year-old twin boys, and a 9-year-old boy. His mother described him as a loving father who was trying to protect himself from Fakhri’s alleged obsession.
A Mother’s Denial
Fakhri’s mother, however, claims that her daughter was not capable of such a heinous crime. “I don’t think she would be killing someone,” she told the New York Daily News. “She was a person who was caring for everybody.”
Fakhri’s Fate
Fakhri was arrested on November 26 and indicted the next day by a grand jury on four counts of murder in the first degree, four counts of murder in the second degree, and one count each of arson in the first degree and arson in the second degree. She faces a life sentence in prison if convicted of the most serious charge. Fakhri is being held in the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A Warning to Others
As Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “As alleged in this indictment, this defendant maliciously ended the lives of two people by setting a fire that trapped a man and woman in a raging inferno.” This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of obsessive love and rejection.