Minnesota man took knife from the dishwasher, stabbed pregnant girlfriend 34 times in front of their toddler
07/15/2026 5:00 pm PDT
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (TCN) -- Following a guilty plea, a 26-year-old man has been convicted of two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend and their unborn child in September 2025.
According to a press release from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office, Saleebaan Mohamed Abdirisaaq pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing his girlfriend, 24-year-old Falus Ali, on Sept. 23, 2025. Ali was pregnant with their child at the time. Abdirisaaq retrieved a knife from the dishwasher and stabbed the victim several times in the neck, chest, and arm. According to a criminal complaint obtained by MSN, Ali was stabbed 34 times.
Prior to the fatal stabbing, Abdirisaaq and Ali had gotten into an argument, KNSI reports. After the stabbing, which was witnessed by the couple’s 3-year-old, Abdirisaaq called 911 and said he wanted to turn himself in. When officers responded, they found Abdirisaaq waiting outside with his hands up. He said, “It’s me, I’m right here.”
Ali was 17 weeks pregnant when she was stabbed. Both she and her unborn child were pronounced dead at the hospital, per KNSI.
During their investigation, authorities learned Ali had been granted a no-contact order against Abdirisaaq for prior acts of violence in Sherburne County, Minnesota. In September 2024, Ali filed a restraining order against him in another Minnesota county. In addition to being charged in connection with the deaths of Ali and her unborn child, Abdirisaaq was also charged with violating a restraining order, per KNSI.
An online tribute to Ali called her “an amazing soul; an amazing friend.” According to Violence-Free Minnesota, Ali was planning to attend college and hoped to become a pediatric nurse.
Ellison called the crime “shocking and horrifying.” Abdirisaaq was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder on July 10 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 25. MSN reports that under the plea agreement, Abdirisaaq will receive a 40-year term.
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