Mom poisoned 5-year-old before fiery Gaithersburg crash, police say

Police in Montgomery County, Md. say a woman intentionally killed her 5-year-old son with an overdose of a common antihistamine and then set her vehicle on fire with him in it.

Narges Shafeirad faces first-degree murder and arson charges in the death of Daniel Dana, according to a Montgomery County police spokesperson on Friday morning.

A fire and rescue crew driving through the area discovered the burning 1993 Toyota Corolla near the westbound lanes of Sam Eig Highway (Route 370) near Fields Road.

According to CBS affiliate WUSA, police say Shafeirad set fire to the auto with her son inside in an attempt to cover up his murder.

Shafeirad was taken to a D.C. hospital in serious condition, suffering from burns over 40 percent of her body, particularly on her hands. They were trying to find out the cause of the crash, why Shafeirad was on the road at that time, and why there was so little visible damage. She was arrested and hospitalized under police guard for burns.

Fire investigators quickly determined that the blaze didn’t start underneath the vehicle, but instead began in the passenger compartment. He said police plan to formally file charges in court when she is released from the facility.

Investigator said Shafeirad’s motive had to do with her divorce and a custody battle with the boy’s father.

“There was no indication, there was no one she reached out to for help in the day or days proceeding this, no indication at all”, Francke said.