Parnham Attorney for Murder-Charged Mother

HOUSTON - High-profile defense attorney George Parhnam has been hired to represent Narjes Modarresi, the Houston mother accused of burying her child alive.

Modarresi is charged in the capital murder of her two-month-old son, Masih, and is in custody in the Harris County jail without bond.

Investigators say an autopsy report shows the child was buried alive.

Modarresi, 28, was formally charged with capital murder at a probable cause hearing on Friday morning.

On Wednesday afternoon, an Amber Alert was issued for Masih. Modarresi originally told police she was pushing the boy in a stroller when several men snatched the child and ran away.

Investigators later said the mother broke down and confessed to burying the child near a home in the 8000 block of Woodway Drive.

An autopsy report from the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office said the boy was buried alive, face down in a muddy pool of water.

"The autopsy noted water and mud in the complainants lungs, stomach, and airway, concluding the complainant was alive prior to being placed face down in the muddy water and buried," read a court official.

In court, prosecutors said Modarresi had mud on her clothing, consistent with the mud at the crime scene.

Modarresi was not in court as the details of the investigation were read aloud. Officials have placed her in a psychiatric ward for mental evaluation.

During a phone conversation on Friday, defense attorney Parhnam told FOX 26 News that he was not aware of the details in the autopsy report.

Parhnam is scheduled to meet with Modarresi for the first time on Saturday.

Family members who spoke to FOX 26 on Thursday said prior to her arrest, the mother was undergoing treatment for mental illness and she was taking medication for it.

Parhnam said Modarresi has been hospitalized for mental illness in the past. He is best known for using an insanity defense to overturn Andrea Yates' capital murder conviction.

In 2001, Yates killed her five children by drowning them in the bathtub of her Clear Lake area home. The killings gained national attention and introduced many Americans to the term, "postpartum depression."

Postpartum depression is likely at the core of Modarresi's defense.

While Parhnam declined further comment, his wife Mary, who has actively worked to raise awareness through the Yates Children Memorial Fund, said she immediately thought of Yates when she first heard of the Modarresi case.

"Bottom line, ultimately, she had a good family support system and it's so tragic this happened. I don't believe anyone could ever envision that someone they know or love could do the unthinkable."

On the Web:

Mental Health America of Greater Houston -- http://www.mhahouston.org/

Information and Referral Helpline: 713-522-5161
 

Psychotherapist Mary Jo Rapini recommends that mothers concerned about postpartum depression contact the following organizations:

American Psychological Association: 1-800-374-2727

Postpartum Education for parents: 1-805-564-3888

Postpartum Support International: 1-800-944-4773