‘A good mother’: Woman who attempted to kill self, baby gets mental health help over prison – Argus Leader

Julia Alzoubaidi thought she was saving her baby.

A "misguided love" in the middle of a medically psychotic state led her to believe that ending her and her son's life in October 2018 would save him from a lifetime of suffering from what she thought was an attachment disorder.

Over a year later, Alzoubaidi sat in a Minnehaha County courtroom at her sentencing hearing, listening to hours of testimony regarding her mental health and the improvements she's made since she purposefully drove her car off of Interstate 229 on Oct. 15, 2018 in an attempt to kill herself and her son.

"Not a day goes by that I'm not sorry," Alzoubaidi told the court Friday. "I can't believe it was me."

Julia Alzoubaidi(Photo: Avera Health)

More: Affidavit: Mother tried to kill baby after fearing he had a reactive attachment disorder

Alzoubaidi, 35,was given three years of probation, which includesa condition that she closely followa mental health regime. If she violates any terms of her probation, the court could sentence her up to 15 years in prison, the maximum punishment for the charge to which she pleaded guilty.

Judge Susan Sabers said she hasseen defendants who knowingly caused their children harm, but didn't think that was the case for Alzoubaidi. "

The thought that she was saving her son was part of a mental episode, Sabers said.

"You thought you were saving him a lifetime of misery. You were wrong. But you were acting under a mental defect," she said.

Alzoubaidi's privately retained attorney Mike Butler said an expert who wrote a report for the court said that it was only when Alzoubaidi was "psychotically depressed" that she thought she had to take the life of the then-6-month-old child, and has made a "remarkable medicinal recovery."

She had suffered from a mental condition that "deprived her of reason,"Butler said.

Alzoubaidipleaded guilty in Septemberto one count of abuse or cruelty to a minor. She took a benefit-of-the-bargain pleaover a guilty but mentally ill plea.The plea deal dismissed an attempted murder charge and called for probation with a suspended imposition of sentence.

Julia Jacquelyn Alzoubaidi, 34, is charged with attempted murder after she allegedly tried to kill herself and her infant child in October 2018.(Photo: Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office)

Alzoubaidiwas chargedafterSouth Dakota Highway Patrol troopers responded to the crash near the Big Sioux River, north of the Minnesota Avenue on-ramp.

They found Alzoubaidi face down in the water and her 6-month-old infant near the bank.Both were taken to Avera McKennan Hospital for treatment. A suicide note was alsofound.

More: Affidavit: Mother tried to kill baby after fearing he had a reactive attachment disorder

The child is healthy and has been seeing Alzoubaidi under supervision, but hasn't spent time alone with her. The supervision restriction was lifted with Alzoubaidi's sentence.

Sabers added that, even though the child shouldn't have been anywhere near the Big Sioux River in the first place, Alzoubaidi's motherly instincts kicked in to get him out of the water and closer to the shore.

"The mom gene kicked in and you saved his life," she said to an emotional Alzoubaidi.

Alzoubaidi's parents, sister, husband and doctor testified to her improvements and recognition of her mental health. Her family came to Sioux Falls from around the country to be with Alzoubaidi since the crash. All said they have no worries about her spending time alone with her now 19-month-old son.

"The difference is striking," Alzoubaidi's fatherPaul Michaelsaid. "She's returned to the daughter we've known all of our lives."

Julia Jacquelyn Alzoubaidi, 34, charged with attempted murder and abuse or cruelty of a minor, makes her initial court appearance Friday, Dec. 7 ,2018.(Photo: Danielle Ferguson/Argus Leader)

Her family described her as loving, "the peacemaker" of the family, an excellent mother and a contributing citizen to the community. As a psychologist at Avera, Alzoubaidi worked with clients and had a passion for helping children with autism, they said.

Avera psychologist Dr. Wallace Jackman has been seeing Alzoubaidi since the incident, and said he has no concern of her being alone with her child or returning to work.

Because she was given a suspended imposition of sentence, it does not automatically disqualify her ability to get back a medical license. The state medical board will have the ultimate determination.

Sabers said she cared more about the time and efforts Alzoubaidi had put into her recovery and the help she was receiving from family than her ability to practice medicine again.

Some of the best substance addiction counselors have had their own battles with addiction, and the same could apply to Alzoubaidi as a mental health professionalif she ever gets back into the field, Sabers said.

Mohammed Alzoubaidi, Julia's husband since 2015 and also a doctor at Avera, said he has no concerns about her with their son. If he did, he wouldn't be standing by her side today, he said.

"She is a good mother," he said in his testimony, often tearing. "This is uncharacteristic of her. ...She doesn't have an evil bone in her body. This was definitely out of her control."

Julia Jacquelyn Alzoubaidi has been charged with attempted murder.(Photo: Submitted)

Sabers stressed to the family their own statements that nobody saw this spiral coming. She said she was holding each of them accountable to be a support system to Alzoubaidi.

"I share (the state's attorney's office) concerns," Sabers said. "You were asking for help. The red flags didn't get you the help you needed."

The family said they have a safety plan in placeshould signs of major depression or anxiety appear again. Alzoubaidi said she hopes to continue rebuilding her family, helping children and even helping other mothers with struggling after birth.

Alzoubaidi was also given a $5,000 fine and must see a probation officer. Sabers requested Alzoubaidi be put on a payment plan so that every month, when she writes a check to the courts, she'sreminded that she's under probation supervision.

Email reporter Danielle Ferguson at dbferguson@argusleader.com, or follow on Twitter at @DaniFergs.

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‘A good mother’: Woman who attempted to kill self, baby gets mental health help over prison – Argus Leader

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