Mother and Stepfather Arrested in Toddler's Murder Case, Grandmother Released

In the case of the murder of a 2-year-old child, the child's mother and stepfather have been placed in custody, while the step-grandmother has been released on a signature not to leave the country.

According to the Investigation Committee, sufficient evidence has been collected, leading to charges against the stepfather under Article 119, Part 2, Points 3 and 5, and Article 104, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The child’s mother and step-grandmother are also facing charges under Article 119, Part 2, Points 3 and 5.

Earlier, the Investigation Committee reported that on February 7, 2021, a toddler was brought to Masis Medical Center in a state of death, with an external examination revealing multiple injuries, including to a vital organ in the head area. According to the forensic conclusion, the cause of death was a closed cranio-cerebral trauma.

The pre-investigation revealed that the physical injuries were inflicted by family members of the child: the mother, stepfather, and step-grandmother. Investigative measures have uncovered numerous circumstances surrounding the child's death.

Specifically, according to the findings, during the period from February 1 to 6, 2021, the toddler was often in a distressed state. The stepfather, unable to tolerate the child's incessant crying, along with the mother and grandmother, intentionally inflicted physical pain on the child repeatedly over several days at different times, striking various parts of the child's body. Moreover, the father demonstrated clear hostility towards the child, while the mother and grandmother, without a doctor's prescription, administered the drug 'Dimedrol' via liquid to forcibly silence the child.

On February 6, 2021, unable to bear the child’s cries any longer, the stepfather, using profanity, struck the child’s head forcefully around 8:00 PM, causing the child to weaken and fall onto the couch. He then covered the child with a couch cover and delivered three to four more powerful blows to the head and back. Subsequently, he grabbed the child by the back of the neck and put him into a washing machine while continuing to strike the child's head with his fists, resulting in the child's death the next day, on February 7.

During the additional examination of the crime scene, blood-like traces were discovered, and samples were taken.