Aurionah Rakii Karie Parker White, 23, Charged with Attempted Murder After Allegedly Slashing Wrists of Her Three Children—Ages 1, 3, and 5—Inside Their Englewood Apartment; Neighbor Devaughen Stringfellow Found Her Screaming “I Can’t Raise Them Alone,” Rushed All Four to Hospital as Blood-Soaked Scene Unfolded in South Side Tragedy
In one of the most deeply disturbing and emotionally harrowing incidents to shake Chicago’s South Side in recent memory, Aurionah Rakii Karie Parker White, a 23-year-old mother, now stands accused of attempted murder and aggravated battery of children after allegedly using a sharp object to cut the wrists of her three young children—ages 1, 3, and 5—inside their Englewood apartment. The act, described by first responders and neighbors as “blood-soaked, chaotic, and traumatizing,” unfolded in the early hours inside a modest residential building where cries for help pierced the quiet.
The mother herself, Aurionah Parker White, was reportedly covered in blood, screaming and sobbing when her neighbor, Devaughen Stringfellow, heard the commotion and forced his way into the unit. What he found was unimaginable—three young children bleeding profusely from their wrists and their mother in a state of psychological collapse, shouting through tears, “I can’t raise them alone.”
Stringfellow, now hailed as a heroic neighbor, wasted no time. He gathered all four individuals—Aurionah and her three children—and rushed them to the nearest hospital, where the children were immediately treated for deep lacerations and significant blood loss. As of the most recent update, all three children are in serious but stable condition and remain hospitalized under close observation.
A Scene of Horror Inside a Chicago Apartment
The apartment, located in Englewood, a South Side neighborhood known for its economic hardship and systemic neglect, was described by responders as resembling a crime scene from a nightmare—blood on the floor, walls, and furniture, children lying motionless, and their mother crying uncontrollably.
According to initial reports and a criminal complaint filed shortly thereafter, Parker White is alleged to have used a box cutter or similarly sharp object to slash each child’s wrists, with intent to kill. The children, whose names have not been publicly released due to their ages, are all under six years old—the youngest just 12 months, the oldest five years old.
After being treated for her own injuries, which were non-life-threatening, Aurionah was taken into police custody, where she now faces three counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated battery to a child under 13, and additional child endangerment charges. Her bond hearing is pending, and she remains in the Cook County Jail under psychiatric evaluation.
Who Is Aurionah Parker White?
Little public information is available about Aurionah Parker White’s background, but neighbors say she had recently moved into the building, appeared to be struggling financially, and was seen rarely interacting with others on the block. Despite this, no one reported her as violent or unstable—until now.
“She seemed overwhelmed, but never dangerous,” said one neighbor who asked not to be named. “We didn’t expect this. None of us did.”
Court documents indicate no prior convictions or history of violence, but there may have been prior contacts with child services, though the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has not confirmed this, citing privacy laws. A caseworker familiar with the family, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned that Parker White had expressed feelings of isolation and despair in past welfare checks.
A Mother’s Cry: “I Can’t Raise Them Alone”
One of the most chilling and tragically human moments of this event came through the firsthand account of Devaughen Stringfellow, the neighbor who intervened. He described hearing screaming, then banging on the walls and a repeated, heart-wrenching phrase:
“She kept saying, ‘I can’t raise them alone… I can’t raise them alone…’ over and over again.”
That cry for help, even amid a monstrous act, hints at a mental and emotional crisis that had been boiling beneath the surface, unnoticed or unsupported, until it exploded into violence against her own children.
Psychologists not involved with the case say this could reflect severe postpartum depression, psychosis, or other untreated mental health disorders, potentially intensified by poverty, social isolation, and parental burnout. Yet, none of these factors excuse the crime—they only complicate the context in which it occurred.
The Children: Survivors of an Unthinkable Betrayal
The three children, who are currently receiving care at Lurie Children’s Hospital, have suffered not only physical trauma but a level of emotional and psychological damage that experts say may take years—if not a lifetime—to heal. Hospital spokespeople report that all three remain in serious condition, and two underwent emergency surgery to stop arterial bleeding.
DCFS has taken emergency protective custody of the children. They are currently being monitored by a team of child psychologists, pediatricians, and social workers, while authorities attempt to contact extended family members to determine if any next of kin are able and willing to take custody.
“This is a catastrophic betrayal of trust,” said a spokesperson for Chicago Child Advocacy Services. “When your primary caregiver becomes your attacker, the sense of safety is obliterated. Rebuilding that trust in any caregiver will be difficult.”
Devaughen Stringfellow: A Neighbor Who Acted Fast
Were it not for Devaughen Stringfellow, the tragedy might have turned even darker. A lifelong Chicago resident and former Army medic, Stringfellow’s instinct to enter the home without waiting for first responders may have saved all three children’s lives. In an emotional interview with local news, he said:
“I saw blood everywhere. She was covered in it. I didn’t think—I just got them into the car and drove. I couldn’t wait for an ambulance. I didn’t know if they had minutes or seconds.”
Many in the community are calling for him to be formally recognized for bravery, saying that his actions exemplify what true neighbors do in moments of crisis.
Mental Health, Poverty, and Child Welfare: A System Under Strain
This case shines a glaring spotlight on a fractured mental health care and social services system that frequently fails vulnerable parents. Despite mounting calls over the past decade to increase mental health support for at-risk mothers, especially those in underserved communities, resources remain inadequate, and outreach is inconsistent.
Englewood in particular has been the focus of multiple sociological studies due to its combination of extreme poverty, single-parent households, and underfunded public services. It is not uncommon for residents to experience intergenerational trauma, housing instability, and inadequate mental health access. When these challenges compound, some crack under the pressure—with catastrophic consequences.
Dr. Leila Mendez, a trauma psychiatrist in Chicago, commented on the systemic failure:
“What we see in this case isn’t just a crime—it’s a failure at multiple levels: mental health, social services, housing, education. That doesn’t exonerate the mother. But it forces us to ask: who else failed those kids before the knife touched their skin?”
Community in Mourning and Disbelief
In the wake of this tragedy, Englewood residents have been organizing small gatherings, lighting candles, and leaving stuffed animals and handwritten notes outside the building where the crime occurred. One note simply read: “You deserved love, not pain.”
A community meeting is scheduled at St. Sabina Church in nearby Auburn Gresham to discuss how to mobilize better supports for struggling mothers, especially those with small children and limited family assistance. Chicago Alderman for the district has pledged to push for emergency funding for family mental health crisis intervention, saying this tragedy should “never happen again.”
The Legal Path Ahead
Aurionah Parker White is currently being held without bail pending psychiatric evaluation. Her legal team has not yet made public statements, but sources suggest that they may explore an insanity defense based on possible postpartum psychosis or other psychiatric disorders.
If convicted of all charges, she faces a potential life sentence.
However, many in Chicago’s legal and psychological communities are calling for the court to also consider forensic psychiatric analysis and mental health treatment, rather than rushing to prosecute without understanding the full context.
That said, the priority now remains the recovery of the children, who—though young—will carry these scars with them forever.
This is not just a crime story. It’s a tragic glimpse into the unraveling of a human mind, a family’s implosion, and a system that still cannot catch everyone before they fall.
Tags: Aurionah Rakii Karie Parker White, Englewood stabbing, Chicago child abuse, attempted murder of children, Devaughen Stringfellow, Chicago mental health crisis, child welfare failure, DCFS investigation, South Side violence, postpartum psychosis, family tragedy Chicago
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