New details have emerged about the disappearance and death of former Samara mayor Victor Tarkhov and his wife Natalya, who were allegedly killed by their granddaughter Ekaterina Tarkhova in a dispute over 145 million rubles.
Investigators have not yet established the exact date or cause of death for the couple, as no bodies have been recovered, according to Russian news outlet KP.RU. However, evidence gathered by law enforcement suggests the pair may have died on New Year's Eve.
The couple was last seen alive in December 2024, when friends and acquaintances reported their final interactions with the family.
Disappearance in December
A kindergarten manager last spoke with Natalya Tarkhova on December 18, 2024. Two days later, on December 20, the chairwoman of her homeowners association spotted her on the street.
On that same day, Natalya visited a clothing boutique alongside her granddaughter Ekaterina to select several items. She was unable to pay at the register, promising to return on December 25 to complete the transaction and collect her purchase. However, she never returned to the shop, and after December 25, only Ekaterina answered phone calls placed to the couple.
A neighbor named Dmitry recalled that in late December, Natalya asked him for assistance after her husband fell inside their home. Dmitry said the former mayor was conscious at the time and showed no signs of alcohol consumption.
Financial transactions and unusual messages
On December 30, Ekaterina arrived at the office of Novitrek, a company where her grandfather held shares, to collect 500,000 rubles in dividend payments. She presented a power of attorney bearing a signature that appeared similar to Tarkhov's handwriting, although staff were unable to reach Tarkhov by telephone to verify the authorization.
Family members and associates were unable to reach either spouse on New Year's Eve or on January 3, which marked Tarkhov's birthday. Text message replies sent from the couple's phones during this period were signed with the unusual initials "TVA" rather than Tarkhov's customary sign-off "VAT", leading investigators to suspect they were already dead.
Arrest and motive
It was previously reported that Ekaterina poisoned her grandparents over a period of more than a week. News of the couple's death broke on February 5, the same day law enforcement officers detained Ekaterina.
Investigators allege that Ekaterina carried out the killings to gain control of 145 million rubles belonging to her relatives.
Samara is a major city in southwestern Russia situated on the Volga River, serving as an important administrative and industrial center. Victor Tarkhov was a prominent local political figure who previously served as the mayor of Samara.
Russian law enforcement agencies and investigative authorities are continuing their inquiries into the deaths as criminal proceedings against Ekaterina move forward.
