Mother of boy feared dead on New Mexico compound showing 'tremendous strength'

ATLANTA — For the first time, Channel 2 Action News is hearing from the mother of a 3-year-old boy who was taken by his estranged father to live on a compound, and is now feared dead.

“I believe that the family has begun to come to terms with that distinct possibility,” attorney M. Khurram Baig said.

He told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne that his client, Hakimah Ramzi, was already reeling from the realization that remains discovered in the vicinity of a New Mexico compound very well may be those of her missing young son, Abdul-ghani Wahhaj.

[PHOTOS: 11 children found starving, living in New Mexico compound, police say]

There are allegations of more horror associated with Ramzi’s estranged husband, the child’s father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, and the compound where 11 other children were found in terrible conditions.

“I spoke with her and I think it’s fair to say (she) ... was absolutely stunned, shocked and frankly just saddened,” Baig said. “When she heard, this saddened her thinking about those children, what they must have been exposed to, force to deal with.”

Court documents filed Wednesday said, "a foster parent (Siraj Wahhaj) of one of the eleven children stated the defendant had trained the child in the use of an assault rifle in preparation for future school shootings."

[Prosecutor: Metro Atlanta man arrested at compound trained kids for school shooting]

The document also referred to “the training of children with weapons in furtherance of a conspiracy to commit school shootings.”

“She clearly had no indication whatsoever during their time together that this was anything that he was capable of, so she is completely shocked and trying to come to terms with this information,” Baig said.

Baig said Siraj Wahhaj took Abdul-ghani in December without his mother’s permission and she has worked with Clayton County police and the FBI since then to try to find him.

[READ: Authorities find remains of child on grounds of New Mexico compound where GA boy last seen]

“No one could have predicted that he would have taken the steps he took to abduct their son and flee to New Mexico and do what ... has (been) alleged,” Baig said.

Baig said his firm has been brought in mainly to help Ramzi navigate the grim process she faces as she assists law enforcement in the investigation into what happened in Georgia, New Mexico and points in between.

“We had moments earlier today where she showed tremendous strength, but I think, especially this new revelation, brought forth a lot of what she had been holding and the last I saw her, she was trying to regain her composure. She is having a hard time right now,” Baig said.

Cox Media Group