Modesto mother sentenced to life for killing 4-year-old daughter, attacking son
Nearly three years after prosecutors said she fatally stabbed her 4-year-old daughter and attempted to kill her son during a psychotic episode inside the family’s Modesto home, Mina Nazari was sentenced Tuesday to 32 years to life in prison, plus six years, after a Stanislaus County judge denied defense motions seeking a new trial and acquittal.
Judge Ruben Villalobos rejected motions filed by defense attorney Franz Criego challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and seeking to overturn the jury’s verdict before imposing the sentence. The sentencing had been continued several times following Nazari’s March conviction and sanity verdict.
Nazari, 36, received 25 years to life for first-degree murder in the killing of her daughter, Sana Akram, and a consecutive seven years to life for the attempted murder of her son. She also received a consecutive six-year determinate sentence stemming from weapon enhancements and child endangerment, according to Deputy District Attorney Fawn Smolak.
“The sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes committed and the impact they had on the victims, their family, and our community,” Smolak told The Bee after the hearing. “The jury’s verdict and the court’s sentence affirm the community’s commitment to accountability and justice.”
“While no sentence can fully repair the harm caused by Ms. Nazari’s actions, today’s outcome ensures that Ms. Nazari will be held responsible and will no longer pose a threat to public safety,” she said.
Criego said he intends to appeal.
“My motions were made in good faith,” he told The Bee after sentencing. “He (Judge Villalobos) has a right to deny them. The appellate courts will have the last word.”
Asked whether Nazari plans to appeal, Criego responded: “Oh, yeah.”
Criego declined to comment on Villalobos’ observation during the hearing that, after the jury’s sanity verdict, he had expected a different outcome on the post-trial motions.
Instead, Criego defended his request for a new trial, saying it stemmed in part from plea negotiations before the verdict.
“The People had agreed that if we had plead to second-degree murder, they would agree to not give her ‘by reason of insanity,’ ” Criego said. “The problem with that is, if there is an error, it would technically prevent my client from filing any appeal.”
The defense had argued the evidence was legally insufficient to support the convictions and maintained prosecutors failed to prove Nazari acted with the required criminal intent, citing her documented schizophrenia, psychosis and command hallucinations. Criego’s motions also argued those claims could still be reviewed on appeal even without certain trial motions having been made.
Villalobos denied both motions before proceeding to sentencing.
Jury rejected insanity defense
The sentence follows a March trial in which jurors first convicted Nazari on all counts before, in a separate sanity phase, finding she was legally sane at the time of the crimes.
Jurors convicted her of:
- First-degree murder in the death of her daughter
- Child abuse causing death
- Attempted premeditated murder of her son
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Child endangerment
During the sanity phase, the defense argued Nazari suffered from schizophrenia and experienced command hallucinations that led her to believe killing her children would save them from eternal damnation. Prosecutors countered that her statements and conduct before and after the attacks demonstrated she understood both the nature of her actions and that they were wrong.
Jurors ultimately rejected the insanity defense.
2023 attack inside Modesto home
The case stems from an October 2023 attack inside the family’s Modesto home.
Evidence presented during trial showed Nazari fatally stabbed her 4-year-old daughter, Sana Akram, and seriously wounded her then-10-year-old son before calling 911.
The case drew widespread attention because it centered on the intersection of severe mental illness and criminal responsibility. Trial testimony established Nazari had a history of schizophrenia, prior psychiatric hospitalizations and had stopped taking prescribed medication before the attacks.
With Tuesday’s sentencing, the trial court proceedings conclude, though the case now heads to the appellate courts following Criego’s notice that Nazari will challenge her convictions.
