Mom Dies In Plano Fire, Son Found With Slashed Throat

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PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) - Authorities investigating an apartment fire in Plano now believe that it may have been a crime to cover up severe child abuse.

Police in Plano said that a 6-year-old boy was in critical condition Wednesday after suffering horrendous injuries before he was found in a fire that killed his mother. The child died on Thursday morning.

It happened at The Village of Preston Creek apartments on Monday afternoon.

When police and fire officials arrived, they found the apartment full of smoke from a lit stove, and fires started in every room. An adult woman inside, identified as Santhiya Laksmigari, and her 5-year-old son had severe burns.

She died at a hospital while her child somehow survived the fire. He later died from his injuries.

Police said that the boy was bleeding from a skull fracture as well as a laceration to his throat and ligature marks on his neck. Neighbors said that they never saw anything suspicious.

"Oh my God, no way, that's horrible, but you never know, everybody keeps to themselves," said neighbor Shirelle Chapman.

Police have not determined who caused the injuries.

Neighbors told police that they have previously seen the mother outside talking and screaming to herself, and believe that she had mental issues.

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