Body Parts Found in Refrigerator: Egyptian Lawyer Arrested Over Mother’s Killing

Egyptian authorities have arrested a lawyer accused of killing her elderly mother and dismembering her body inside the apartment they shared in Alexandria, in a case that has caused widespread shock across the country.

The suspect was arrested on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at an apartment where she had allegedly been hiding in Sheikh Zayed City, Giza, after leaving Alexandria following the discovery of the remains. She was transferred back to Alexandria to appear before prosecutors.

The case began after residents of an apartment building on 10th of Ramadan Street in the Sidi Bishr Qibli district reported a strong odour coming from a fourth-floor unit.

Neighbours told police that the apartment had been rented by a lawyer who lived there with her elderly mother. According to local reports, the suspect had previously attributed the smell to spoiled food, but residents contacted the authorities when it continued and no one responded at the apartment.

After completing the required legal procedures and entering the property, officers discovered human remains distributed across several areas of the apartment and inside sealed bags.

Parts of the body were also found inside the refrigerator and freezer. Forensic investigators recovered a knife and scissors carrying dark stains and sent the items for examination.

Interior Ministry Reports a Confession

Egypt’s Interior Ministry later said its investigation identified the victim’s daughter, who lived in the same apartment, as the alleged perpetrator.

According to the ministry’s statement, the suspect admitted during questioning that longstanding disputes existed between her and her mother, whom she accused of treating her badly.

The ministry said the suspect told investigators that an argument took place on July 17 and escalated into a physical assault. She allegedly struck and strangled her mother until she died.

Police said she then used a bladed weapon to dismember the body over a period of two days before fleeing the apartment out of fear that the crime would be discovered. The weapon was reportedly recovered and placed in evidence.

The victim was identified in the Interior Ministry’s statement as a 70-year-old woman. Earlier reports had said forensic testing was being conducted because decomposition had made visual identification difficult.

Investigation Remains Underway

Prosecutors are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, including the precise timeline, the evidence recovered from the apartment and the suspect’s statements.

Investigators have also been reviewing nearby surveillance footage, questioning neighbours and witnesses, and examining forensic evidence collected from the scene.

Although the Interior Ministry has reported that the suspect confessed, she remains legally accused rather than convicted. Her criminal responsibility and any possible sentence must be determined through the prosecution process and the courts.

The case has received particular attention because the accused is a lawyer who had been known for her professional and rights-related activities.

Reports about her personal history, mental health and relationship with her mother have circulated widely online. However, those claims should not be treated as established explanations for the crime unless confirmed through official investigations or a formal psychiatric assessment.

The discovery has left residents and members of Egypt’s legal community in shock, while prosecutors work to establish the full circumstances of one of Alexandria’s most disturbing criminal cases in recent years.