Northlake, Texas — A Texas mother accused of stabbing her husband and their two young children early Tuesday had reportedly been struggling with postpartum depression, according to her husband, who told police he had become concerned about her behavior before the alleged attack.
Holly Leeann Flores, 37, was arrested after her husband, 34-year-old Justin Hommel, called 911 at about 4:20 a.m. from the family’s home in Northlake, a small community roughly 30 minutes north of Fort Worth.
Flores is accused of attacking Hommel and their 3-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son with a knife. The children were found with multiple stab wounds to their chests, according to the arrest affidavit.
Husband Told Police He Was Concerned About Her Behavior
According to the affidavit, Hommel told investigators that Flores had been experiencing postpartum depression around the time of the incident.
He reportedly said he had planned to sleep on a couch so he could remain closer to the children because he was concerned about Flores’ behavior.
Hours before the alleged attack, Hommel reportedly noticed Flores taking a candle into the children’s bedroom, which he considered unusual. He later woke around 1 a.m. to the sound of Flores attempting to use a lighter in the bedroom, according to the affidavit.
Hommel went to investigate and allegedly discovered Flores lighting a candle inside the room. He also noticed a kitchen knife sitting on a dresser.
The presence of the knife reportedly alarmed him, and the affidavit says the weapon “freaked him out.” Hommel attempted to enter the room, but Flores allegedly closed the door. He eventually went back to sleep.
Children Were Found Screaming Inside the Home
According to the arrest documents, Hommel later woke to the sound of his children crying inside their bedroom. He went toward the room and knocked on the door before Flores allegedly began attacking him with the knife.
During the struggle, Hommel was able to wrestle the knife away from Flores. Police later observed bite marks on his arm, which investigators said were consistent with a physical struggle.
During the 911 call, Hommel could reportedly be heard asking Flores whether the incident was a “postpartum thing.”
Northlake Police Chief Robert Crawford said the emergency call indicated Hommel was attempting to reach his children while Flores was allegedly trying to stab him.
Police Found Blood on Husband’s Head
Officers arrived at the family home shortly after the emergency call.
According to the arrest affidavit, Hommel was standing in the driveway when police arrived. He was reportedly holding a knife and had blood on his head. Officers instructed him to drop the weapon before entering the residence.
Police then located Flores inside the home and took her into custody.
During a protective sweep, officers found the couple’s two children screaming inside the residence. Both children were conscious when police arrived, but investigators said they had suffered multiple stab wounds to their chests.
Hommel and the children were transported to a Fort Worth hospital for treatment. Hommel suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while the children were reported to be in stable condition.
Flores Faces Multiple Charges
Flores was initially treated at a hospital before being released and taken into custody.
According to Chief Crawford, she was transported to the Denton County Jail and faces two charges of attempted capital murder and one charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The case remains under investigation, and the allegations against Flores have not been proven in court.
Police Had Previously Responded to the Home
Authorities also revealed that officers had been called to the family’s address around five times since March. Most of those calls reportedly involved welfare concerns.
The arrest affidavit also confirmed that police had previously responded to the residence for welfare-related incidents and overdoses. Emergency radio audio reportedly included a dispatcher saying:
“They have a history of welfare concerns involving CPS with the mother,”
Child Protective Services confirmed that it had previously been involved with the family but did not provide additional details.
The latest case has raised further questions about what was happening inside the home before Tuesday’s alleged attack, as investigators continue examining the family’s history and the circumstances that led to the violence.
What do you think about the latest details in this disturbing Texas case? Share your thoughts in the comments as the investigation continues.
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