Daler Bobiev's Foster Mother, Facing Up to 25 Years in Prison for Child's Murder, Denies Guilt
In a chilling turn of events, the Sverdlovsk Regional Court has concluded hearings for 36-year-old Veronica Naumova, accused of drowning her adoptive son, five-year-old Daler Bobiev. Naumova vehemently denied the accusations, asserting, "I didn't kill the boy. The cause of death for Daler, as per the autopsy, remains unclear. Perhaps, had I called an ambulance back then, he would have survived. This is my greatest regret."
The verdict is set for July 28, with Naumova facing 62 counts of criminal offenses. She is charged with:
- 49 counts of unlawful detention;
- five counts of intentional infliction of serious harm;
- three counts of involving a minor in serious and extremely serious crimes;
- two counts of neglect of a minor;
- physical abuse;
- murder of a minor;
- fraudulent acquisition of funds exceeding 119,000 rubles.
Naumova's nephew, Danil Yegolnikov, is also involved in the case. Investigators believe that from 2019 to 2022, Naumova tortured the boy and compelled Yegolnikov to commit crimes under threats of eviction from the home. Yegolnikov is facing a sentence of six years in prison for torture and unlawful confinement of a minor.
Tragically, Daler Bobiev's body was found in December 2022. Initial reports indicated that Naumova bound Bobiev's legs with tape, brutally beaten him, and then carried him to the bathroom, according to investigators. The autopsy revealed that the child had been drowned. Naumova's appointed guardian remained silent about Bobiev's disappearance from January to June 2023 and illegally received social payments for him during this period. She later reported Bobiev as missing.
Naumova faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for the crime. Her husband, who is the second defendant in the case and a member of the SVO, claims to have had no knowledge of Bobiev's death. He denies any wrongdoing. The military serviceman was sentenced to five years in prison.
Former employee of the child protection and guardianship department, Yevgenia Voznesenskaya, was sentenced to two years in a penal colony for failing to ensure proper living conditions for Bobiev and submitting false information in the case file.
The upcoming verdict for Veronica Naumova, involving multiple counts of criminal offenses including unlawful detention, intentional infliction of serious harm, and murder of a minor, is set to be announced on July 28. Meanwhile, the general news, crime and justice sectors are closely following the politics surrounding the case, with Naumova's nephew, Danil Yegolnikov, also facing charges for his alleged involvement in the torture and unlawful confinement of Daler Bobiev.
