Three charges have been brought against the parents under various articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and the case has been forwarded to court. They face substantial prison sentences for their actions.

At the end of January this year, the body of a 1-year-and-3-month-old boy was discovered in a freezer in an apartment in Odessa, where he lived with an older sister, an 18-year-old mother, and her 44-year-old partner, who had previously served over 12 years in prison for property crimes.

Police detained the individuals involved. Following an investigation, the court imposed a preventive measure of detention without the right to bail.

During the preliminary investigation, police discovered that due to the mother’s negligence, the child suffered thermal burns on several parts of his body, categorized as serious bodily injuries that posed a danger to life. The mother and her partner observed the child’s symptoms, including loss of consciousness and breathing difficulties, but failed to seek medical help, leading to tragic consequences – the boy died.

According to the forensic examination, the child’s death was linked to burn disease caused by the injuries and complicated by the development of fat embolism.

To conceal the death of the child, the mother’s partner wrapped the body in plastic, hid it in a bag, and then placed it in the freezer, where it remained for about two weeks until discovered by the police.

As reported by a police official, after conducting necessary examinations and investigative actions, sufficient evidence led to charges being pressed against them under Part 3 of Article 135 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – willful abandonment of a person in a life-threatening state, where the person responsible for care failed to provide assistance, resulting in death. The mother is also charged under Article 166 for gross negligence in fulfilling parental responsibilities, while the partner faces charges under Part 1 of Article 297 for desecration of the deceased's body. The indictment has been sent to court.

Under current legislation, the couple faces up to eight years in prison.

A two-year-old girl, also raised in this family, is currently in a children's facility.

Additionally, separate proceedings have been initiated regarding local government officials who failed to perform their duties to protect the rights and interests of children, which contributed to the child's death. The investigation is ongoing.