A couple in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don have been killed and dismembered following a dispute over a residential parking space. Andrey Sukharevich, 41, and his wife Ruslana, 40, were beaten and forced into their own Lada Vesta car by a neighbour, state investigators said. The parents of three children under 16 were driven 19 miles before being stabbed and slashed to death, according to the Russian Investigative Committee.
Attack and Kidnapping
The alleged killer, a 26-year-old neighbour, was identified by CCTV cameras and detained, said Major-General Irina Volk, official spokeswoman for the Russian Interior Ministry. The couple's daughter Alina, 15, witnessed the initial attack and kidnapping after her parents drove home and called her grandparents, who alerted police. The girl, along with her brother, nine, and sister, eight, are now in the care of their maternal grandmother.
The attack stemmed from a dispute over a parking place at the Yekaterininsky residential complex in Rostov-on-Don, according to multiple reports. The couple and the attacker had both claimed the same spot. The killer reportedly blamed the couple for slashing the tyres on his Zhiguli car and confronted them when they returned home at 10.30pm on October 30. There is no evidence the couple were to blame, but it may have led to the deadly attack, said one report.
Witness Account and Investigation
A witness called Anna said: "He beat the man so severely - delivering blows with such force - that it was clear the intent was not merely to punish, but to kill him. Onlookers tried to pull the attacker away, but he refused to stop." She added: "I began screaming loudly, begging them to stop." She called the police and then saw the Lada drive away with the beaten couple inside.
The committee said: "The suspect - following a conflict with the couple - forced the man and woman into a vehicle and drove away. He subsequently inflicted multiple stab and slash wounds to the victims' torsos, resulting in their deaths [...] The bodies of the victims, bearing signs of a violent death and dismemberment, were discovered in an area within Aksaysky District of Rostov Region."
Family Reaction and Aftermath
Andrey's sister Tatiana said: "They were a very close-knit, good family. They lived well and lacked nothing. They loved their children - there were no conflicts - everything was wonderful." She added: "It seems [the attacker] must have been out of his mind. We don't yet know who will take care of the children."
The alleged killer has not been named. He faces a criminal investigation for kidnapping and double murder.
