Newly released arrest documents are shedding disturbing light on what unfolded inside a Northlake home in the hours before a woman allegedly attacked her husband and two young children with a kitchen knife early Tuesday morning.
According to the affidavit, Justin Hommel told investigators that his wife Holly Flores had been struggling with postpartum depression and that her behavior had noticeably changed in recent days.
Hommel said he first woke up during the night to find Flores lighting a candle near a kitchen knife that had been placed on the bedroom dresser. The couple argued, and Flores locked him out of the room before he eventually fell back asleep.
He was awakened a second time by the sound of his children crying. Hommel then called 911 and told dispatchers that he was being chased through the house by Flores who was armed with the knife.
Officers arrived to find both children suffering from stab wounds to their chests. Flores now faces charges of attempted capital murder in connection with the attack.
Northlake police confirmed that officers had previously responded to five separate welfare check calls at the family’s home dating back to March. Authorities have not released details about those prior visits or whether Flores was receiving any mental health treatment at the time of the attack.
The case is bringing renewed attention to the broader spectrum of postpartum mental health conditions. Licensed clinical psychologist Andrea Niles said postpartum depression is often misunderstood because people tend to look for a narrow set of symptoms.
Niles noted that anxiety anger irritability and even confusion are all recognized symptoms that frequently go unidentified by families. She said a person who simply does not seem like their normal self or who expresses beliefs that do not make sense could be showing signs of a serious postpartum condition.
Niles emphasized that family members are often in the best position to notice behavioral changes early and can serve as a critical first line of support and intervention.
Investigators have not officially established whether a mental health condition was a contributing factor in the stabbing. The case remains under active investigation by Denton County authorities.