ST. CLOUD – A 26-year-old St. Cloud man is accused of stabbing a woman 34 times, killing both her and her unborn child, according to charges filed Thursday in Benton County District Court.
Saleebaan M. Abdirisaaq is facing four felony counts of second-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Falus A. Ali of St. Cloud and the unborn child. His first court hearing is Friday.
The complaint notes without elaboration that the two “had been in a significant romantic relationship.” Abdirisaaq was charged last year in Hennepin County with threats of violence against Ali, who characterized him at that time as her ex-husband.
According to the complaint, police were dispatched to a 911 call at an apartment in the 1000 block of E. St. Germain Street in St. Cloud just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Abdirisaaq told dispatchers that someone had just died and he wanted to turn himself in. He was waiting on the apartment’s patio with his hands in the air when officers arrived, according to the complaint.
Police found Ali lying on her stomach in the living room in a large pool of blood, with a 5-inch serrated kitchen knife on the floor next to her. Officials found 34 stab wounds on her body, including her neck, shoulders, arms, chest and jaw, the complaint states.
Responders attempted resuscitation efforts but Ali was unresponsive, and she was pronounced dead at St. Cloud Hospital. Staffers told police that she was 17 weeks pregnant and that the unborn child did not survive.
Police said the 3-year-old child of Ali and Abdirisaaq was on the patio with the suspect when they arrived on the scene. While transferring the child to a family member, officials heard the child talking about Abdirisaaq “punching” Ali and mentioning blood, the complaint states.
