A student doctor has been detained with her husband in Russia, accused of dismembering their eight-month-old daughter.
The child died when father Yakov Maiboroda, 33, aimed a kick at his wife Anastasia, 23, during an alleged domestic dispute – but struck the baby girl instead, say Russian police sources.
The blow killed the child in their flat in the city of Rostov-on-Don, near the western border with Ukraine, it is alleged.
He and his wife – a trainee children’s doctor – then dismembered the child using knives and an electric meat grinder, according to officers.
They put the remains of the girl into 13 plastic bags, and the medic called police to say the child had been kidnapped.
Anastasia Maiboroda, 23, a trainee paediatric doctor, is accused of dismembering and hiding the body of her infant daughter in Rostov-on-Don in western Russia
Yakov Maiboroda was detained by police after allegedly dismembering his infant daughter
The Russian Investigative Committee said: ‘After ascertaining that the child did not show any signs of life, the couple took steps to hide the body.
‘Afterwards, in order to create the appearance of not being involved in a crime, the 23-year-old mother of the dead girl reported to the law enforcement authorities about her alleged abduction by unknown perpetrators.’
But when state investigators arrived at their flat they detained the pair on suspicion of murder.
Experienced officers were horrified at the sight as they removed the electric meat grinder, knives with traces of blood, and 13 bags of human remains, reported Baza media.
‘The remains of the child’s body and other evidence proving their involvement in a particularly serious crime were found at their place of residence,’ said the committee’s statement.
Neighbours said there were ‘constant screams’ from the flat after the couple moved in six months ago.
They had been visited previously by social services.
‘On the day of the murder, he was more violent than usual, then the noise and children’s cries stopped abruptly,’ reported Mash media.
‘Neighbours sensed something was wrong, but they could not imagine that at that time behind the wall the parents were trying to get rid of the body of their murdered daughter.’
The report said: ‘Almost every day other residents listened to the abuse of the spouses and the crying of a small child.
‘During these months, they were visited several times by juvenile inspectors.’
Criminal cases have been launched against the husband, a manager in a company producing honey, and his trainee paediatrician wife.
The couple were remanded in custody by a judge pending further investigations until June 28.
‘Investigative measures are currently being taken in the criminal case in order to establish all the circumstances of the crime,’ said the committee.
The Investigative Committee released footage of the couple from Rostov-on-Don. Anastasia Maiboroda (left, in handcuffs) is detained and taken through to speak to officials
Officials took statements from Yakov (right) and his wife at the Investigative Committee of Russia
Russian investigators found the child’s body at their apartment on Platon Klyata Street
Russia has high rates of domestic murder by international standards, and there are signs this has worsened during the war against Ukraine unleashed by Vladimir Putin.
In 2021, before the war, Time reported that as many as one in five women were the victims of domestic abuse in Russia.
Four years prior, Putin signed off a law that would ‘partially decriminalise’ domestic abuse.
By law, domestic violence that results in ‘minor harm’, like bruising, was to be considered a misdemeanor punishable by fine or up to 15 days in jail, according to The Moscow Times.
Of all those who die from domestic abuse each year, ten per cent are Russian.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk.