Father charged with killing severely autistic sons four years after driving family off Los Angeles pier

A father has been charged with killing his two severely autistic sons after prosecutors say he drove his family off a Los Angeles pier in 2015.

Ali Elmezayen, 44, had collected more than $260,000 in insurance payouts and wired more than $170,000 back to his native Egypt, according to authorities. He had already been in federal custody in connection with insurance fraud charges.

It is alleged that Elmezayen intentionally drove off the edge of the fishing dock in San Pedro with his wife and two children inside the vehicle. The wife, Rabab Diab, who could not swim, was rescued by a fisherman.

"The poor lady was screaming hysterically," said fisherman Ray Prince. "I thought she was going to drown."

Elmezayen is facing one count of attempted murder in addition to capital murder, prosecutors announced Wednesday. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Abdelkarim, 8, and Elhassan, 13, were strapped in child seats, and their bodies were recovered by divers. With his window open, Elmezayen surfaced within 30 seconds and swam to safety.

Elmezayen told KTLA after the deadly plunge that it was a "really bad accident."

"I try to park next to the ocean," Elmezayan told the TV station. "I don't know how this happened."

The murder trial will not take place until after the insurance fraud trial, which starts later this year, is completed.

Prosecutors initially declined to bring murder charges because of a lack of evidence.

With News Wire Services

___

(c)2019 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.