Hend Bustami, once claiming arrest for being ‘too pretty,’ now faces 15 years to life for maternal murder

In a startling turn of events, Hend Bustami, who previously made headlines by claiming she was arrested for being ‘too pretty,’ has been sentenced for the murder of her mother. The Las Vegas woman gained attention in 2022 when she was apprehended at Harry Reid International Airport for leaving a restaurant without paying and accused officers of harassment due to her appearance.

During the airport incident, Bustami exhibited belligerent behavior, accusing officers of harassing her for being attractive. Despite facing charges for violating airport conduct, Bustami found herself entangled with the law once again, this time for a far graver offense.

Months after the airport incident, Bustami was arrested for the murder of her mother, 61-year-old Afaf Hussanen. An audio recording from Bustami’s 911 call revealed her admission, saying, “I think I killed my mommy,” and later admitting to breaking a table on her head. Authorities discovered Bustami in California, covered in blood, while Hussanen was found dead in Las Vegas, having suffered multiple stab wounds.

Bustami pleaded ‘guilty but mentally ill’ to second-degree murder with a deadly weapon. She has now been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, with reports indicating that she will have access to mental health treatment and programs during her incarceration.

The tragic journey from a peculiar airport incident to a heinous crime has culminated in a lengthy prison sentence for Hend Bustami, raising questions about the intersection of mental health and criminal justice in her case.