Mother Charged – Dad Can’t Bury 5-Year-Old

Coffin with white floral arrangement — Photo: shulers / Shutterstock

A New York City father says he cannot afford the deposit to bury his 5-year-old daughter, days after the child’s mother was charged with her murder.

Story Snapshot

Kuldeep Singh launched a fundraiser to cover his daughter Fabiana’s funeral and burial costs.
Singh said a funeral home and cemetery require a deposit he does not have.
Police charged Fabiana’s mother, Francis Cabello, with murder in Queens.
New York City and New York State offer limited funeral aid that rarely covers total costs.

A father asks for help after a sudden, brutal loss

Kuldeep Singh posted an online appeal two days after his daughter Fabiana died. He wrote that the funeral home and cemetery were asking for a deposit he could not pay and asked for help to give her a dignified funeral and burial. He tied the appeal to a clear purpose: cover immediate funeral and burial costs so plans can move forward. He identified himself as Fabiana’s father, and reporting linked his fundraiser to the same child at the center of the Queens case.

Police arrested and charged Fabiana’s mother, Francis Cabello, in the child’s death at the family’s South Richmond Hill home. Major outlets reported the charge and the start of court proceedings, which placed the criminal case on the Queens docket. Coverage described a chaotic scene and a family now split between grief, court, and urgent burial decisions. The charge is an allegation, and the case continues in court.

Funeral costs hit fast, and deposits come first

Funeral homes in New York must give an itemized price list on request, yet families still face large upfront costs. A viewing, ceremony, and burial can run well above eight thousand dollars in New York, and that total does not include a burial plot or cremation fees. Many providers require deposits before confirming dates or services. That is the pinch point Singh described: he cannot move forward without the down payment.

Public aid exists but is capped and often slow. New York City’s Human Resources Administration can provide up to one thousand seven hundred dollars toward funeral expenses for eligible low-income residents, and it requires an itemized invoice. The New York State Office of Victim Services can reimburse up to twelve thousand dollars in funeral and burial costs for crime victims, subject to eligibility and documentation. These programs help but rarely erase the near-term deposit hurdle.

Why families turn to crowdfunding in moments like this

Families ask the public for help when the bills arrive before the aid. Research shows funeral campaigns are a steady share of online fundraisers and tend to draw strong donor response compared to other causes. That pattern reflects a basic truth: people rally when a child dies, and they want immediate impact. Singh’s request follows that path. He asked for help to pay a deposit now so his daughter can have a proper burial without delay.

Many Americans struggle with surprise costs, and funerals are both sudden and expensive. Even when public aid is available, applications, proof, and processing take time. That gap, measured in days, drives urgent appeals. Common sense says neighbors, churches, and local groups often fill that gap first, with government help arriving later to cover the balance.

Accountability, compassion, and what comes next

Clear guardrails matter. New York law requires funeral homes to give itemized price lists, which helps families compare costs and avoid surprise fees. City and state programs set caps and require invoices, which can prevent waste while still helping a grieving parent over the hump. That balance fits conservative values: personal responsibility, local charity, and targeted aid that answers a real need without open-ended spending.

Community action now will decide how fast Fabiana is laid to rest. Singh says the deposit stands between his daughter and a final goodbye. The court will decide the criminal case in time, but the funeral cannot wait on a docket. The practical path is simple: verify the funeral provider, confirm the deposit, and meet it. That is how a city shows care for a child, and how a family finds a measure of peace.