Newly released arrest documents are shedding light on the terrifying sequence of events that unfolded inside a Northlake home early Tuesday morning before a woman allegedly attacked her husband and two young children with a kitchen knife.
According to the affidavit, Justin Hommel told investigators he woke up to find his wife Holly Flores lighting a candle with a kitchen knife sitting on the bedroom dresser. The couple argued, and Flores locked Hommel out of the bedroom before he eventually fell back asleep.
Hommel said he was jolted awake a second time by the sound of his children crying. He called 911 and told dispatchers he was being chased through the house by Flores who was armed with the knife. Both children were discovered with stab wounds to their chests.
Hommel told police that Flores had been struggling with postpartum depression and that her behavior had noticeably changed in the period leading up to the attack. Northlake police confirmed that officers had responded to five separate welfare check calls at the residence since March, though authorities have not released further details about those prior visits.
Police have not confirmed whether Flores was receiving any mental health treatment at the time of the alleged attack or whether a diagnosed condition played a direct role in the incident.
The case is drawing renewed attention to the broader spectrum of postpartum mental health conditions that often go unrecognized. Licensed clinical psychologist Andrea Niles said the public tends to have a narrow understanding of postpartum depression that can prevent families from identifying warning signs early.
Niles said symptoms can include anxiety, intense anger, irritability and confusion. She noted that behavioral changes that seem subtle such as a person believing things that do not make sense or simply not seeming like themselves can be early indicators of a serious postpartum condition.
Niles emphasized that family members are often in the best position to notice these shifts and can serve as a critical first line of response by seeking professional help on behalf of a loved one who may be struggling.
Flores faces serious charges in connection with the attack. The investigation remains active and authorities have not released information on the current condition of the two children or additional details about the charges Flores is facing.