"I begged them, ‘Do not release my son. Let's find a long-term facility to put him in,'" said Rabia. "He needs treatment. He needs counseling."
Rabia said her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2007. Court records show that Mahdi has been arrested numerous times since then on charges ranges from traffic offenses to child cruelty to public indecency and sexual battery.
Rabia said she had taken every step she could to keep Mahdi from being released.
Kimbrough said that the county no longer had the legal authority to hold Mahdi.
"He needed some help and we were trying to give him the best help that we could within the confines and constraints of our authority and our abilities here at the Clayton County Jail," Kimbrough said.
The sheriff said that his staff tried to find a facility where Mahdi could be treated, but no spaces were available.
"There is a very complicated – probably overly complicated – process to transition from the criminal side of the law to the civil side of the law where mental health commitments occur," said Kimbrough. "That's kind of like a vicious cycle. So we have a lot of people behind bars throughout the state who really should be in a more therapeutic environment, but that environment doesn't exist."
Kimbrough said he was frustrated and troubled when he learned of the crimes that Mahdi is accused of. He said he and other sheriffs have tried to get lawmakers to understand the effects of cuts to mental health facilities. He said the burden often falls to jails to act as mental health facilities.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:56 AM EDT2013-05-23 04:56:30 GMT
The FOX 5 I-Team has learned that Douglas County District Attorney David McDade is personally asking the GBI to investigate how money is spent in his office.
The FOX 5 I-Team has learned that Douglas County District Attorney David McDade is personally asking the GBI to investigate how money is spent in his office.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:55:59 GMT
A local woman says she's trying to rebuild her life after storms hit this past weekend and destroyed her home.
A local woman says she's trying to rebuild her life after storms hit this past weekend and destroyed her home. Just one day later, some of her family members were in Oklahoma near where the tornado hit.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:50 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:50:14 GMT
FOX 5 has learned that two Newton County elementary school students are being treated for injuries after they were bitten by a fox while they were playing on a playground.
FOX 5 has learned that two Newton County elementary school students are being treated for injuries after they were bitten by a fox while they were playing on a playground. Both victims are 6-year-old boys who are in kindergarten at Rocky Plains Elementary School, where the attack happened.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:42 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:42:27 GMT
What do major hotel chains, the IRS, and the business partner of a top rapper have in common? Court records show the National Conference of Black Mayors owes all of them money. Big money.
What do major hotel chains, the IRS, and the business partner of a top rapper have in common? Court records show the National Conference of Black Mayors owes all of them money. Big money.
Salih Mahdi is charged in the brutal rape of a leasing agent at a Morrow apartment complex on June 5.
