Son Calls 911 to Say Dad Stabbed His Mom in the Kitchen Before Fleeing with His 18-Month-Old Sister By Toria Sheffield

A man in Missouri has been charged with murder and child endangerment after allegedly stabbing his wife to death and then fleeing their home with their 18-month-old daughter.

Malang Jan Akbari, 46, was arrested on Monday, Jan. 12, per Cole County public arrest records. He has been charged with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child and armed criminal action, according to 19th Circuit Court public records.

Authorities received a 911 call from Akbari’s son on Jan. 12 at around 12:25 p.m. local time. Akbari’s son said that his father had called him and said, “I killed your mom, and I left the house,” per court documents.

The son allegedly told 911 dispatch that he then went to his family’s home after receiving the call, where he found his mother bleeding on the kitchen floor, unresponsive. He also told dispatch that his 18-month-old sister had been home with their mother, but that he could not locate her, per court documents.

The son additionally said that his father was likely driving their family vehicle, a 2015 blue Honda Odyssey.

An Amber Alert was issued for the 18-month-old child, and police located the Honda and took Akbari into custody that same day. Officers found the missing 18-month-old at the home of a relative of the family. The relative allegedly told police that Akbari had dropped off the child at their home before fleeing, per court documents.

Detectives stated that they spoke to Akbari with the help of an interpreter after taking him into custody, and that he confessed to killing his wife and leaving their home with his daughter. Akbari also allegedly told detectives that he and his wife had gotten into an argument that day because he suspected she was cheating on him.

Detectives stated that Akbari said he stabbed his wife, then laid her down on the floor and put a pillow under her head as she bled, per court documents. Akbari added that he picked up their daughter, said a prayer and then left the residence.

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Akbari also allegedly admitted to calling his son, as well as several other family members, after committing the crime to tell them what he had done and to ask them to check on his wife, per the documents.

“I loved her. I sacrificed everything for her. I made a mistake. I do regret this. There was no other option for me,” he told detectives, according to court documents.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Akbari’s attorney, David Moen, said that his client is “innocent until proven guilty.” He added that he has entered a plea of not guilty on his client’s behalf “based upon [Akbari’s] mental condition,” which Moen stated is “severely impaired.”

He added that Akbari served in the Afghan Army for many years and sustained numerous injuries during that time. Moen said Akbari and his family moved to Jefferson County about four years ago.

“He and his family have a lot of friends in this town, a lot of good connections,” Moen told PEOPLE, before asking for prayers for Akbari and his family, “especially the children who lost their mother.”

Akbari has a bond review scheduled for Jan. 21 and a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 19, per public court records.