21-Year-Old Suspect in Murder of 59-Year-Old Woman Transferred to Mental Health Center in Artashat

On June 15, following the decision of the Head of the Investigative Department of Ararat Region, Ambakum Grigoryan, the Senior Investigator of Especially Important Cases, Norayr Ayvazyan, submitted a request to the Court of General Jurisdiction of Ararat and Vayots Dzor regions to impose a two-month detention as a preventive measure against 21-year-old Karen M. from Artashat.

Judge G. Hovhannisyan approved the investigator's request after holding a closed court session; however, the suspect was not transferred to a penitentiary institution but rather to the National Center for the Protection of Mental Health in Nubarashen.

As reported earlier by a photojournalist from the crime scene, a particularly brutal murder occurred in the Ararat region on June 12. At about 15:15, the police received a call from the “Artashat” medical center indicating that a female victim, with multiple knife wounds to various parts of her body, was brought to the hospital but succumbed shortly thereafter.

Responding to the incident were Grisha Amirhanyan, Head of the Ararat Regional Police, Davit Petrosyan, Head of the Artashat Police Department, and Ambakum Grigoryan as well as Karen Tadevosyan, Head of the Artashat Investigative Department. The police and investigators found that the victim was identified as 59-year-old Nune N. residing at 3rd house on Ghukasyan Street.

While the forensic doctor examined the body, law enforcement identified Karen M., the suspect, about 1.5-2 kilometers from the crime scene in an open area. It was determined that the murder had occurred in the kitchen of Nune N.'s home, where blood-like traces were also discovered.

Under the direction of Senior Investigator Norayr Ayvazyan, a criminal case was initiated based on Article 104, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code. According to reports, the weapon used in the crime, a knife, was also found. Karen M. was arrested as a suspect.

The investigator ordered several expert examinations, including a forensic autopsy. Several citizens at the scene, relatives and neighbors of the victim, declined to speak in front of the camera but reported, “Everything happened in an instant: the daughter-in-law was holding a newborn when the assailant entered the house, attacking the victim with two knives in hand.”

Notice: The accused or suspected individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the legal provisions established by the Republic of Armenia’s Criminal Procedure Code, with a court ruling that has entered into legal force.