Investigators have detained a police cadet over the shocking killing of the wife and child of a drug control officer in St. Petersburg over the weekend.
Investigators classified the killing, which was allegedly committed by Ilya Komarov, 20, a cadet in a college run by the Interior Ministry, as murder, the Investigation Committee's official spokesman Vladimir Markin told RIA Novosti on Monday.
Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.
Komarov told investigators that on Saturday he killed the wife, 12-year-old son and dog of the unidentified Federal Drug Control Service officer after quarreling with the wife, who was his neighbor.
He stabbed the wife woman, child and dog with a knife, investigators said, adding that the drug control officer found the three dead bodies after returning home from working a weekend shift.
Investigators said Komarov's girlfriend, who was living in the same apartment building, had also argued with the drug control officer's wife in past.
"We're not ruling out that charges could be pressed against her [Komarov's wife] as a co-conspirator," Markin said.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
