**Update/Additional Information**

On February 10, 2020 at 9 a.m. Cobb County Police officers were dispatched to an apartment at Cumberland Crossing Apartments (2328 Hidden Glen Drive in Marietta) to check on an unresponsive 5-year-old female. The officers found the unresponsive child in the home and she was transported to Kennestone Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The investigation into the child’s death revealed a multitude of visible injuries on the child that are consistent with physical abuse (past and present). Though a definitive cause of death has not yet been released by the Cobb Medical Examiner’s Office, there were visible neck injuries indicative of strangulation.

Shekina Akbar (mother) has only lived in Cobb County since late 2019. She and her daughter are from the Mobile, AL area. Shekina also has a son who was not in the home during this incident (he is with relatives in Alabama). Currently there are no known reports of abuse here in Cobb County or the state of Georgia. Shekina Akbar has been charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault Strangulation, and Cruelty to Children 1st Degree.

This incident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 770-499-3945.

**Original Release**

February 10, 2020

Homicide Investigation

Cobb County Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit has arrested the mother of a five-year-old girl after officers responded to an apartment at 2328 Hidden Glen Drive in Marietta to check on the unresponsive child. Officers were dispatched at 9 a.m. to check on the child, and she was transported to Kennestone Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The child’s mother, 30-year-old Shekina Akbar, has since been charged in this case.

This incident continues to be investigated and anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 770-499-3945.