Suspect in elderly couple's murder identified as former son-in-law

Tengrinews.kz - A 46-year-old man, identified as the former common-law husband of the elderly couple’s daughter, is the prime suspect in the murder of the couple at their private home on the outskirts of Almaty, citing KTK.

Neighbors revealed that the elderly parents disapproved of their daughter’s relationship with the suspect, who was known for his frequent drinking and disruptive behavior. The couple had recently separated, and it appears the former son-in-law sought revenge against his ex-fiancée’s family.

“The parents disapproved. The father was particularly against him. He drank a lot and even ordered things to be brought to him. He would say, ‘I love Zhenya. I can’t live without her,’ and he even tried to harm himself,” said neighbor Tatyana Dyachkova.

Another neighbour reported that the family that was massacred was very nice.

“They were very calm, kind, and non-conflictual,” Inna Kartashova said.

The man carefully planned the crime. He left his car in a neighbouring street. Late at night, he entered the home, murdered the elderly man, and then struck the elderly woman in the head. To cover his tracks, he set the house on fire before fleeing the scene.

The suspect was identified and apprehended within 24 hours, thanks to surveillance footage.

"A special investigative team was formed, including officers from the city’s criminal police. The suspect was identified and arrested in a very short time," reported Saltanat Azirbek, spokeswoman of the Almaty police department.

The suspect is currently held in temporary detention and faces up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment with property confiscation.