For Sandra, finding her son after 60 years of searching was an incredible moment of joy and relief. She had given him up for adoption at the age of 17, a decision made by her parents in the early 1960s when unwed mothers were stigmatized and their children were often taken away from them.
The search that followed was long and arduous, with Sandra facing obstacles such as stringent adoption record laws that blocked her access to information about her son. It wasn't until the state of New York amended its adoption regulations in 2019 that Sandra was finally able to learn more about her son's life and whereabouts.
When she finally found him, Malik Abdul-Sajjad, a man who had spent decades on death row for a crime he didn't commit, Sandra was determined to make things right. Despite the fact that they had never met before, the two formed a bond over their shared struggles and experiences.
As Sandra got to know her son better, she realized that there were times when they lived within a few short miles of each other in New York City. She was amazed by the irony of it all and felt a deep sense of regret for not being able to be there for him earlier in life.
Malik's story is one of trauma, abuse, and neglect, a reality that many adopted children face. His adoptive father was described as demanding and brutal, and his mother struggled to care for him. Despite these challenges, Malik found solace in music and eventually became a DJ, a passion that he had instilled in his younger brother Jermaine.
The relationship between Sandra and Malik is complex and multifaceted, one that is marked by regret, love, and a deep desire to make things right. As they spent more time together, Sandra began to understand the pain and trauma that her son had experienced, and she was determined to be there for him in his final days.
In the end, it was not meant to be. Malik was executed by lethal injection on November 20, 2025, leaving behind a family who was shocked and devastated by his loss. Sandra's story is one of hope and redemption, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility for forgiveness, love, and healing.
The case of Malik Abdul-Sajjad serves as a stark reminder of the flaws in the US justice system, particularly when it comes to cases involving death row inmates who claim they were wrongly convicted. His story highlights the need for reform and greater oversight to ensure that such injustices do not continue to occur.
As Sandra navigates her grief and tries to come to terms with the loss of her son, she is also grappling with the question of why his life turned out the way it did. She knows that adoption laws at the time were designed to punish unwed mothers, but that does not excuse the pain and trauma that her son experienced.
In an interview, Sandra spoke candidly about her feelings and the pain of losing a child. "I don't want to think about it," she said, "but I know I'm going to have to." Her words capture the complexity of emotions that come with losing a loved one, particularly when that loss is as painful and traumatic as this one.
As we reflect on the story of Sandra and Malik Abdul-Sajjad, we are reminded of the importance of family, love, and redemption. Despite the flaws in the justice system, their story serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity for forgiveness, healing, and hope.
The search that followed was long and arduous, with Sandra facing obstacles such as stringent adoption record laws that blocked her access to information about her son. It wasn't until the state of New York amended its adoption regulations in 2019 that Sandra was finally able to learn more about her son's life and whereabouts.
When she finally found him, Malik Abdul-Sajjad, a man who had spent decades on death row for a crime he didn't commit, Sandra was determined to make things right. Despite the fact that they had never met before, the two formed a bond over their shared struggles and experiences.
As Sandra got to know her son better, she realized that there were times when they lived within a few short miles of each other in New York City. She was amazed by the irony of it all and felt a deep sense of regret for not being able to be there for him earlier in life.
Malik's story is one of trauma, abuse, and neglect, a reality that many adopted children face. His adoptive father was described as demanding and brutal, and his mother struggled to care for him. Despite these challenges, Malik found solace in music and eventually became a DJ, a passion that he had instilled in his younger brother Jermaine.
The relationship between Sandra and Malik is complex and multifaceted, one that is marked by regret, love, and a deep desire to make things right. As they spent more time together, Sandra began to understand the pain and trauma that her son had experienced, and she was determined to be there for him in his final days.
In the end, it was not meant to be. Malik was executed by lethal injection on November 20, 2025, leaving behind a family who was shocked and devastated by his loss. Sandra's story is one of hope and redemption, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility for forgiveness, love, and healing.
The case of Malik Abdul-Sajjad serves as a stark reminder of the flaws in the US justice system, particularly when it comes to cases involving death row inmates who claim they were wrongly convicted. His story highlights the need for reform and greater oversight to ensure that such injustices do not continue to occur.
As Sandra navigates her grief and tries to come to terms with the loss of her son, she is also grappling with the question of why his life turned out the way it did. She knows that adoption laws at the time were designed to punish unwed mothers, but that does not excuse the pain and trauma that her son experienced.
In an interview, Sandra spoke candidly about her feelings and the pain of losing a child. "I don't want to think about it," she said, "but I know I'm going to have to." Her words capture the complexity of emotions that come with losing a loved one, particularly when that loss is as painful and traumatic as this one.
As we reflect on the story of Sandra and Malik Abdul-Sajjad, we are reminded of the importance of family, love, and redemption. Despite the flaws in the justice system, their story serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity for forgiveness, healing, and hope.
I just can't believe this crazy adoption system that led Malik to spend 60 years on death row 
. It's like, what even is the point of having laws if they're gonna keep people in the dark about their own lives? 
And then to find out he was wrongly convicted... it's like a real-life horror movie 
.
It's like, one minute you're on death row for something you didn't do, the next you get paroled and live the rest of your life in peace. What even is that? 
. And even though Malik is gone now, his story will live on as a reminder of the importance of love, redemption, and humanizing our justice system.
. But I guess all we can do is hope for better times ahead 
.
how can u put a price on human life? 
we need 2 be more understanding and supportive of families who r goin through tough times... like Sandra's story is a reminder that we gotta take care of each other 
this is so sad its like they say the circle of life takes you full circle but not always for good i feel bad for malik he was on death row like 2 times already and didnt even commit a crime in his own mind lol how can that happen? and its crazy that maliks adoptive dad was super brutal to him and his mum too Sandra is doing her best to make things right which is awesome but at the same time i wish she couldve been there for him back when
thinking about Sandra and Malik's incredible reunion! It's like, who needs a fairy tale when you have real life stories like this? The fact that they got to form a bond despite never meeting before is just mind-blowing... I mean, what are the chances?! And the irony of living just a few miles apart in NYC? 
️ It's like the universe was trying to bring them together.
, but at the same time, it's clear that there were some huge flaws in the system that led to his execution 
, and I can imagine how amazing (and heartbreaking) it must have been for them to finally meet 
.
, but at the same time, I wish he had more time to pursue his passions and live a happier life 
.