18-Year-Old Kills 42-Year-Old Woman for Her 'iPhone 13 Pro Max'

On June 20, 2023, a report was received regarding a 42-year-old woman who left her home in the village of Ptghni, Kotayk Province on June 18 at 7:00 PM and did not return.

Immediate operational-search and investigative measures were initiated, but the woman was not found. A criminal case was launched under part 1 of Article 155 of the RA Criminal Code by the Abovyan investigative department of the Kotayk Regional Investigative Committee, and the preliminary investigation was assigned to a dedicated group. The 42-year-old woman was recognized as the victim.

During the preliminary investigation, a number of procedural and investigative actions were carried out, including the localization of the victim's phone and the discovery of her vehicle. It was revealed that the victim's 'iPhone 13 Pro Max' was sold on June 20, 2023, in Yerevan.

As a result of urgent investigative and procedural actions and cooperation with relevant police departments, individuals who sold and purchased the phone were identified and brought before the prosecuting body. During interrogation, they provided critical details significant to the investigation. An 18-year-old suspect was arrested on charges of committing murder.

The investigation revealed that the 42-year-old woman was murdered on June 18 around 9:00 PM. On the day of the incident, the victim met with her 18-year-old acquaintance in Parakar. They drove around in the woman’s vehicle and parked in an area known as 'Apricot Orchard'. The young man, motivated by self-serving interests to take control of the victim's 'iPhone 13 Pro Max' and use her vehicle, intentionally strangled her by holding her neck with his right hand while pressing the back of her head with his left hand.

He bound the victim's hands, feet, and mouth with duct tape, transported her body by car to an abandoned stone production facility near the cemetery in Parakar, and pushed the body into a ditch, covering it with stones. He then took the woman's mobile phone and left the scene in her vehicle. On June 20, he sold the 42-year-old woman’s 'iPhone 13 Pro Max' through a friend for 200,000 AMD and used the car for his own needs.

During the investigation, an investigative action was conducted at the crime scene where the 42-year-old victim's body was discovered. Decisions were made to appoint forensic and genetic examinations of the body. Based on the collected evidence, the 18-year-old man was charged under part 2, point 10 of Article 155 of the RA Criminal Code. A motion was submitted to the court to select detention as a measure of restraint.

The preliminary investigation continues, and efforts are being made to clarify all circumstances of the case. Instructions have been issued to the relevant department of the RA MoJ police.

Note: A suspected or accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the RA Criminal Procedure Code and by a legally binding court verdict.