TIJUANA — State authorities in Mexico say they have arrested a 19-year-old woman who confessed to killing and mutilating her sister and her Russian-born mother.
Baja California state Deputy Prosecutor Jose Maria Gonzalez said Anastasia Lechtchenko was detained Friday afternoon in Tijuana. Officials say the woman had earlier confessed to police that she'd killed the two because they practiced witchcraft against her. But a judge did not order her arrested until prosecutors provided more evidence.
The dismembered bodies of 45-year-old Yulia Masney and 12-year-old Valeria Lechtchenko were found June 10 in plastic bags at their house in Playas de Tijuana, less than a mile (almost 1 kilometer) from the U.S. border.
A judge is set to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the woman.
Both Anastasia and Valeria Lechtchenko were born in Mexico to Russian parents, the prosecutor's office said.
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.
