New Details Emerge in the Brutal Murder of a Gyumri Resident: What Was the Motive?

New significant details have emerged regarding the murder of Varduhi Hakobyan, a resident of Gyumri, including the identity of the alleged perpetrator and the motive behind the crime.

Earlier, it was reported that on July 21, 2024, a report was received from a citizen who had returned home after a long time to find her sister, Varduhi Hakobyan, who lived in one of the houses on Japaridze Street in Gyumri, unresponsive. After breaking down the door, she discovered her sister's body.

During the examination of the crime scene, a decayed body was found in the living room, covered with a blanket, with the body placed in a suitcase from the head to the waist. According to the forensic expert's statement, the body had been deceased for several months.

On July 22, 2024, a 49-year-old man registered in Gyumri but living in the Kotayk region was arrested on suspicion of murder. Prior to the incident, he had lived with the victim in her house in Gyumri for several months.

As part of the criminal proceedings initiated under Article 155, part 1 of the RA Criminal Code, large-scale investigative and procedural actions were carried out by the Shirak Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee, and operational-search activities were conducted by police officers. It was revealed that the 49-year-old resident of Gyumri had been in a common-law marriage with Varduhi Hakobyan. He physically assaulted her in the living room during an argument provoked by her comments about his children in April-May 2023, inflicting injuries that were incompatible with life.

Afterward, in an attempt to move her body, he placed it half in a suitcase, but unable to continue with the transfer, he covered it with a blanket, took the victim's mobile phone and house keys, locked the door, secured the yard gate, and left the premises. Subsequently, the 49-year-old man sent SMS messages to the victim's sister using the woman’s other phone numbers to conceal the fact that she had died.

During the pre-trial investigation, it was determined that the 49-year-old man was registered with the Gyumri Mental Health Center. A decision was made to recognize the head of the Gyumri community’s guardianship and oversight committee as his legal representative.

During a personal search conducted within the scope of the criminal proceedings, two keys were found in the man’s trousers, which turned out to be the keys to the entrance door and the gate of Varduhi Hakobyan's house. Based on the sufficient evidence obtained, charges were brought against the 49-year-old man under Article 155, part 2, clause 9 of the RA Criminal Code (murder committed by a close relative, partner, or former partner).

A request was submitted to the court to apply imprisonment as a measure of restraint, which was granted. The investigation is ongoing.