New Details: Suspect in the Murder of 87-Year-Old Mother Registered at Psychiatric Dispensary

On July 19, 2020, at 21:05, a resident of the Lori region reported being unable to contact her mother living in the Nersisyan district of Vanadzor. Emergency responders and staff from the Ministry of Emergency Situations immediately responded and entered the apartment, where they discovered the 58-year-old resident, along with blood-like traces in various parts of the dwelling.

According to preliminary data, around 17:00 on July 17, 2020, a 58-year-old man allegedly intended to unlawfully take his mother’s life, striking her with household tools located in the home and killing her. He then dismembered her body and transported the severed parts in polyethylene packages to a waste container in the same district, attempting to burn them.

A criminal case was initiated by the investigation department of the Lori regional investigative committee under part 1 of Article 104 of the Republic of Armenia's Criminal Code (murder), with an investigative group conducting the preliminary investigation. Several urgent investigative and procedural actions have been undertaken during the investigation.

An examination of the crime scene was conducted in the presence of the alleged perpetrator, during which blood-like traces were found and seized from different areas of the apartment. Tools identified as instrumental in the crime—a hatchet, saw, hammer, oil products, and a carpet with blood-like traces—were also collected.

It was revealed that the 58-year-old suspect is registered at a psychiatric dispensary with a diagnosis of residual schizophrenia. He was arrested on July 20, 2020, on suspicion of murdering his mother. During a search of a landfill in the Arjut community of the Lori region at 09:30 on July 20, parts of the 87-year-old woman’s body were discovered in a partially burned state.

Several examinations have been assigned to clarify significant circumstances of the case. The investigation is ongoing, with investigative and other procedural actions taken to clarify all circumstances of the incident and ensure an objective, complete, and comprehensive examination.

Notice: The suspect or accused in a presumed crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedural rules established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, through a judicial decision that has entered into legal force.