Body Found Decomposed, At Least 6 Months Old: New Details on Woman's Murder Case

On July 21, 2024, a citizen reported that they had not heard from their sister, Varduhi Hakobyan, who lived at one of the houses on Japaridze Street in Gyumri, for an extended period. After returning, they broke into the house, only to discover their sister’s body inside. This was reported by the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

A criminal case was initiated on July 21, 2024, by the Shirak Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia under Article 155, Part 1 of the Criminal Code (murder).

An examination of the crime scene revealed that the padlock on the backyard gate was in a closed position, while the metal gate was open. The informant stated they had opened it from the inside. The front door of the house was also found to be open. The same informant claimed they entered through a window, as the front door was locked, and they had to break it open because there was no key available.

On the floor of the living room, a decomposed body was discovered covered with a sheet and placed in a suitcase from head to waist. According to the forensic expert’s statement, it is a human skeleton with a death aged at least 6 months.

The investigation also uncovered a knife, used chewing gum, cigarette butts, bottles of liquor with fingerprints, a blood-stained sheet, a blanket cover, a broken phone, and other items.

Varduhi Hakobyan has been identified as the victim. A forensic examination of the body has been ordered. It was revealed that the victim's relatives last saw her in her home in May 2023, but there had been communication through messages until June 16, 2024.

In light of this information and other factual evidence obtained during the investigation, the police were instructed to carry out operational and investigative measures to clarify several circumstances of significant relevance to the case.

As a result of the measures taken, on the night of July 22, 2024, a 49-year-old man, registered in Gyumri but residing in Kotayk Province, was arrested by the Kumayri Division of the Gyumri Police on suspicion of murdering Varduhi Hakobyan. He had lived with the victim for some time in her mentioned house in Gyumri.

Preliminary information has been obtained indicating that after the murder, he took the victim's phone and maintained contact with her relatives using it. The prosecuting body made a decision to arrest the 49-year-old man based on substantial grounds for suspicion directly arising from the murder of V. Hakobyan. The preliminary investigation continues.