In his 20-year profession as a New York police detective, Kevin Rodgers says he by no means met the likes of Viktoria Nasyrova.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: She is a really colourful prison …
Det. Kevin Rodgers: Extraordinarily brazen. Diabolical.
Even the road smarts of a profession cop left him unprepared for what he says she did.
Kevin Rodgers: I’ve by no means handled a case the place cheesecake that is laced with poison is utilized …
It began on Sept. 2, 2016, with what appeared like a routine name.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: It was a name from patrol stating that now we have a — a girl … advising that there are objects lacking from her bed room.
The girl was a magnificence stylist named Olga Tsvyk, who did eyelash extensions at a close-by salon. Patrol officers instructed Rodgers she’d reported objects, together with purses, had vanished from her residence.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: I seize my accomplice … and we headed out to this, uh, girl’s home.
She instructed Rodgers she had simply returned residence from the hospital, the place she mentioned she’d been out and in of consciousness with extreme dizziness and nausea.
When he obtained to the scene, Olga, a Ukrainian immigrant, nonetheless appeared a bit woozy.
Peter Van Sant: Are you able to bear in mind in any respect … the police asking you questions?
Olga Tsvyk: (Sighs) No, I do not bear in mind.
She says the one factor she remembered was {that a} frantic shopper from the salon had come to her home — a Russian girl named Viktoria Nasyrova, who had needed her eyelashes prolonged in a rush.
Det. Kevin Rodgers:” I would like an emergency eyelash restore achieved. Please, please, please.” … Olga mentioned, “I by no means have achieved that earlier than … each bit of labor I do is in my salon.”
Olga had instructed her shopper she had no appointments out there. However she says Viktoria was within the behavior of being pushy – she’d repeatedly instructed they spend time collectively exterior of labor.
Olga Tsvyk: She begins performing like she’s my buddy, ?
Feeling uneasy, Olga had refused Viktoria’s provides to hang around. And she or he seen one thing else about Viktoria — one thing visually unsettling: an uncanny bodily resemblance.
Olga Tsvyk: I believed she appeared like me.
Olga Tsvyk/Viktoria Nasyrova/Fb
Whereas Olga had turned down socializing with Viktoria, she relented to her pleas for eyelash assist and instructed her to come back over. Olga’s uneasy feeling returned when Viktoria confirmed up at her door with three small slices of cheesecake.
Olga Tsvyk: It is from, like well-known bakery, like well-known cheesecake.
Olga says Viktoria rapidly devoured up two of the slices, after which insisted Olga attempt the final one.
Peter Van Sant: Did you eat your entire piece?
Olga Tsvyk: Sure, it is like small piece.
Peter Van Sant: And what occurred?
Olga Tsvyk: I obtained sick.
She mentioned she threw up violently.
Peter Van Sant: And?
Olga Tsvyk: Then after that, I do not bear in mind something.
Peter Van Sant: So, she tells you this story, what are you considering?
Det. Kevin Rodgers:Â I’m suspicious.
With Olga performing woozy, Rodgers questioned if she was a drug person.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: I mentioned to her, I says, Olga, I mentioned, I need to imagine you, nonetheless, this does not add up. … However she was adamant, adamant. This 100% occurred, and this girl is as much as one thing.
Within the rubbish, Rodgers did see one thing.
Queens District Lawyer’s Workplace
Det. Kevin Rodgers: I walked over to the wastepaper basket and proper there … was this plastic container with what gave the impression to be the remnants of pastry, one thing that appeared good.
Olga recognized it because the cheesecake field. Rodgers instructed his proof staff to bag it and tag it. No matter had been in that field, Olga mentioned it had made her very sick.
Peter Van Sant: You virtually died.
Olga Tsvyk: Yeah, I used to be in coma 34 minutes.
However Olga admits medical doctors did not discover something suspicious in her system. Nonetheless, she instructed Rodgers she was hospitalized twice. He known as the hospitals to substantiate however says they would not expose affected person info.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: Which once more led me to imagine that possibly she wasn’t telling the reality.
Rodgers did attempt to discover Viktoria Nasyrova however could not.
Peter Van Sant: It appears like at that time this case … is nearly over.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: Useless.
However a couple of months later, the case got here again to life when Rodgers discovered a brand new witness: a neighbor of Olga’s, who reported seeing a girl visiting her the day after the alleged cheesecake incident.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: He instructed me {that a} girl had come and gone … a couple of instances.
The neighbor mentioned the mysterious girl had instructed him Olga was sick. And when he went to examine on Olga he walked right into a surreal scene and known as an ambulance. Her room was like a sauna. Somebody had turned the warmth on full blast though it was a scorching August day. And Olga was handed out within the mattress, barely dressed.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: When she is found … she is found on this form of racy lingerie.
Olga was surprised by this element as a result of she had been sporting sweatpants.
Peter Van Sant: So, somebody modified you.
Olga Tsvyk: Yeah.
Peter Van Sant: Modified your garments.
Olga Tsvyk: Yeah.
And there was extra. Tablets have been strewn all around the ground. Rodgers questioned: had somebody tried to kill Olga after which staged the scene to make it seem like a suicide? Rodgers realized that Olga had most likely been telling the reality all alongside.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: I do need to make that form of uncomfortable apology to her of, I am really sorry for not believing you 100% at first.
Rodgers now turned his consideration once more to discovering the suspect on this case — Olga’s shopper, Viktoria Nasyrova. However the place was she? Rodgers had no manner of understanding that another person was additionally looking for her.
His title is Herman Weisberg. He is a non-public eye and a retired New York Metropolis detective. Weisberg was monitoring Viktoria by advertisements on Russian courting websites and social media, the place he says a few of her outreach appeared designed for a distinct segment viewers.
Herman Weisberg: She was promoting her companies as a dominatrix slash escort.
He believed Viktoria was utilizing on-line advertisements to commit crimes of alternative.
Herman Weisberg: She would knock out with knockout medicine … taking cash, watches, jewellery, no matter she might get.
And he suspected Viktoria had achieved one thing a lot worse.
OLGA TSVYK FINDS SHE IS NOT ALONE
With the fog of her mysterious sickness behind her, Olga Tsvyk says she went again to work, sharing the story of her harrowing ordeal. That is when one other shopper instructed her one thing she by no means anticipated to listen to.
Olga Tsvyk: She mentioned, “, considered one of my husband buddy, I believe anyone additionally drug him … his title is Ruben.”
The shopper put Olga in contact with the opposite drugging sufferer — a person named Ruben Borukhov.
About two months earlier than Olga ate that cheesecake, Ruben, who ran a close-by dry-cleaning enterprise, met a girl on a Russian courting web site. Her title? Viktoria Nasyrova.
Ruben Borukhov: She mentioned she’s cook dinner and I mentioned I like to eat.
The 2 organized to satisfy at her place for dinner.Â
Ruben Borukhov: I simply took one chew of fish, and I used to be out of it in 5 minutes.
Ruben says he handed out, and Viktoria allegedly went on a purchasing spree.
Ruben Borukhov: She took, like, $800, possibly $1,000 in my — all collectively in money, $2,400 in American Categorical.
Peter Van Sant: So, she’s livin’ excessive on the hog in your cash.
Ruben Borukhov: Completely. … After which she introduced me right here (walks over to a chair in his retailer and sits down).
Two days later, Ruben had nonetheless been out of it when Viktoria actually took him to the cleaners. Certainly one of Ruben’s workers recorded video.
Ruben Borukhov: She is strolling right here and there and making some tales to my employees. “Oh, we had wine! He drank two bottle of wine.” … I do not bear in mind nothing.
As Viktoria talks to the employees, the digicam catches a glimpse of her sitting within the boss’s chair.
FEMALE VOICE ON VIDEO: Possibly he take tablet or one thing, proper?
CBS Information
Fortunately, Ruben’s sister known as an ambulance. Viktoria would flee the scene earlier than it arrived, however not earlier than cleansing him out
Ruben Borukhov (exhibits Van Sant the within of a protected): I’ve some cash within the basement, couple hundred right here, she took it, she took the watch.
And Ruben believes Viktoria almost took much more than that.
Peter Van Sant: Did you virtually die?
Ruben Borukhov: I believe so … that is how I used to be.
Herman Weisberg: Oh. He was a sick man.
However personal eye Herman Weisberg says when it to involves Viktoria Nasyrova, Olga and Ruben might have been the fortunate ones. In 2017, Weisberg started working with Nadia Ford. Nadia mentioned her mom Alla Alekseenko, with whom she was very shut, had gone lacking again residence in Russia.
Peter Van Sant: And, so, day-after-day you’d speak to her?
Nadia Ford: Each day.
Nadia says earlier than her mom disappeared, she had talked about making a brand new greatest buddy. The buddy’s title? Viktoria Nasyrova. Earlier than Viktoria got here to New York, she was dwelling in Russia, and had turn into Alla’s neighbor within the house subsequent door.
CBS Information
Peter Van Sant (holding up photographs): Right here is your mom … standing subsequent to you. … And right here is Viktoria. … And so they seem to be an odd couple.Â
Nadia Ford: Proper.
Peter Van Sant:Â You simply would not suppose they’d hang around with one another.
Nadia Ford:Â She was all the time making an attempt to be very pleasant along with her. You recognize, and my mother, she belief everybody.Â
Within the fall of 2014, Alla had instructed Nadia she can be sending her daughter particular items. Her new greatest buddy Viktoria would carry them. Viktoria can be carrying $6,000 in money and different valuables, together with two fur coats, to be hand delivered to Nadia. However Viktoria by no means confirmed, and on October 5, Nadia tried to name her mom however could not attain her.
Peter Van Sant: What number of instances did you name your mom that day, October fifth?
Nadia Ford:Â Oh, loads. Loads. Like 100.
Peter Van Sant Actually? 100 instances?
Nadia Ford: No less than. No less than. … I attempted every little thing.
Peter Van Sant And she or he wouldn’t reply?
Nadia Ford: No.
Peter Van Sant: So, what are you considering?
Nadia Ford: I obtained afraid as a result of for eight years she by no means occurred that she did not reply the telephone. By no means.
Nadia says she had discovered Viktoria’s sudden friendship along with her mother suspicious. And that suspicion solely grew when she accessed her mom’s cellphone information on-line.
Peter Van Sant: I noticed the final one that known as her. It was Viktoria.
The decision had are available in at 11 p.m., and there have been no different calls after it.
Nadia Ford: And that is it. After which my coronary heart dropped. …I simply cried. I simply left every little thing.
Nadia left every little thing in her Brooklyn house and headed straight for the airport.
Nadia Ford: I simply began to have this sense that one thing occurred. … One thing horrible.
Peter Van Sant: One thing horrible occurred.
CBS Information
About two years later, “48 Hours” introduced Nadia again to her hometown of Krasnodar, about 800 miles south of Moscow close to the Black Sea, to point out us how she launched her personal investigation into her mom’s disappearance.
First, Nadia satisfied Viktoria to satisfy her exterior her mother’s house constructing, the place she confronted her. She says Viktoria loudly insisted Alla was alive.
Nadia Ford: After which she ran up the steps after which I am like, “The place are you going?’ Why are you working?”
Peter Van Sant: And she or he runs up right here, are you chasing her?
Nadia Ford: Precisely, yeah.
Nadia instructed us she notified police and took them inside her mom’s house. She rapidly realized the place had been looted.
Nadia Ford: (going by drawers): So, after I stroll into the house … nothing.
Peter Van Sant: Bank cards gone?
Nadia Ford: Nothing. Nothing.
Household heirlooms and costly jewellery — gone. And whoever did this additionally stole most of her mom’s life’s financial savings: $40,000 Alla stored in a secret hideaway.
Nadia Ford: And for those who take this off and it is proper over there. (exhibits Van Sant the world the place her mom had hidden the money)
It was gone. And so far as Nadia might inform, so was Viktoria.Â
Peter Van Sant: What are the police and the district legal professional and what are these folks saying to you?Â
Nadia Ford: Simply wait … She’s gonna come again.
Undaunted, Nadia carried on her search, crisscrossing the nation posting flyers. She pleaded with Viktoria by textual content.
Nadia Ford: “Pay attention, I offer you every little thing. My house, cash, you title it. … Please simply give me my mother again.” Â
Nadia feared she was getting nowhere when she had an thought.
Peter Van Sant (in automotive with Nadia): Nadia, the place are we proper now?
Nadia Ford: We’re on a freeway that — Viktoria had my mother.
She’d seen that almost all most important roads had visitors cameras. What if considered one of them had photographed Viktoria the evening Nadia’s mom went lacking?
Peter Van Sant: However you gotta get entry to those images. How do you do this?
Nadia Ford: It is Russia. You purchase issues. You’ve got cash. You purchase issues.
She checked each digicam round city and circled outward. About 100 miles from the house.
Nadia hit paydirt.
Nadia Ford: (pointing to visitors digicam): That is the digicam, you see, proper there. That is the digicam that confirmed my mother was with Viktoria.
Nadia Ford
Photos from that visitors digicam modified every little thing. The images look blurry, however Nadia was sure that Viktoria Nasyrova is behind the wheel — and equally positive she knew who’s sitting within the passenger seat: her mother.Â
Peter Van Sant: Little question in your thoughts?
Nadia Ford: No.
Peter Van Sant: And what is the date that this image was taken?
Nadia Ford: October fifth within the morning. Ten o’clock.
Peter Van Sant: October fifth. The day that you simply misplaced all communication with your personal mom.
If the image may very well be believed, it meant her mom might nonetheless be alive.
Nadia Ford: This digicam gave me hope.Â
Nadia known as Russian police concerning the photos and was shocked at their response.
Peter Van Sant: What does the detective say?
Nadia Ford: He mentioned, “I do know. I’ve these photos.”
With investigators now working the case, Nadia says they confirmed that Viktoria rented the automotive with plates matching what was seen on the visitors digicam. They tracked her down and introduced her in for a lie detector check. However earlier than the outcomes might come again, unbeknownst to the cops, Viktoria caught the primary flight out of Russia.
ON THE TRAIL OF A FUGITIVE
Nadia Ford: She can’t get away with this.
With Viktoria on the run, Nadia desperately continued her seek for her mom — hoping towards hope to search out her alive.
Nadia Ford: I devoted my life to that. … I give up every little thing and everybody. … I … did not imagine … that my mother will not be alive.
Nadia Ford
However hope turned to heartbreak in April 2015 when she obtained a disturbing telephone name. Charred human stays had been present in a distant space a few two-hour drive from Alla’s house. Authorities known as Nadia in to make an identification.
Nadia Ford: I mentioned, “No. That is not her. No. It is — it is simply stays.” … After which a couple of minutes later, I began taking a look at her enamel.
Peter Van Sant: And also you knew. You knew it was your mom.
Nadia Ford:Â Yeah. And yeah. So, I mainly acknowledged my mother by her enamel.
The Russian city of Armavir is about 110 miles from Krasnodar. It is vital to this case as a result of it is the place Viktoria Nasyrova grew up — and the place Alla’s physique was dumped.
Nadia Ford: The physique was right here.
Nadia Ford: Viktoria took every little thing from me. My household, my life, my mother, my every little thing.
By this time, Interpol already had issued a world arrest warrant for Viktoria Nasyrova in Alla’s homicide.
Nadia went residence to Brooklyn decided as ever to trace down Viktoria Nasyrova. On a whim, she turned to Fb. And you will by no means guess whose face popped up on the display screen.
Nadia Ford: Viktoria was posting photos … all around the Fb. Checking in at this place and that place. Lovely life. … she flew to Mexico.
Peter Van Sant: Having a good time.
Nadia Ford: Yeah. And from Mexico she flew to New York.
Nadia reported all this to U.S. police and immigration officers. However they could not discover Viktoria. That is when Nadia began working with personal investigator and former New York Metropolis detective Herman Weisberg. He combed by Viktoria’s Fb profile with an skilled eye for element.Â
Herman Weisberg: I by no means have a look at what folks need me to see on these websites. I am used to taking a look at every little thing aside from what’s supposed to attract your consideration in.
Late at evening, Weisberg meticulously studied each {photograph} and made a outstanding discovery proper on Viktoria’s face.
ViktoriaNasyrova/Fb
Herman Weisberg: (pointing to a photograph of Viktoria): This specific image was essentially the most useful. She’s wearin’ the Ray-Ban sun shades … which can be mirrored, and she or he took an amazing image for us to — to see the dashboard of the automotive. … However extra importantly, the stitching on that again headrest.
Peter Van Sant (pointing to the stitching within the picture): This proper right here?
Herman Weisberg: Sure, this black leather-based with a … mild grey stitching on it. … I made a decision the following morning, I used to be going to be at an enormous car parking zone at a practice station.
He walked row after row of autos, peering into home windows, hoping to search out the make and mannequin that had that stitching.
Herman Weisberg: And it is a huge hub for the railroads.
Peter Van Sant: Lots of of automobiles in right here.
Herman Weisberg: Yeah. In all probability 1000’s in every single place. So, it is actual straightforward … to search for the kinda element I used to be searching for.
Then, a Chrysler sedan caught his eye.
Peter Van Sant:Â So, you look contained in the automotive and what do you see?
Herman Weisberg: All proper, it is obtained the identical stitching.
Peter Van Sant: And — present me in your telephone. … There’s her mirrored sun shades.
Herman Weisberg: Yup. The stitching over right here.
It seems that solely a Chrysler 300 had the stitching and dashboard format. Now, the laborious half: discovering the particular automotive Viktoria was driving.
Herman Weisberg: Once more, this was such a wild goose chase at this level.
However Weisberg noticed {that a} collection of likes on Viktoria’s Fb web page have been clustered round Sheepshead Bay, a Russian neighborhood in Brooklyn.
Peter Van Sant: So, you despatched a few of your investigators … to search for considered one of these Chrysler 300s. Did they’ve any luck?
Herman Weisberg: Effectively, yeah. We discovered a bunch of them. … And the following day I had anyone run the license plates and, fortunately, we discovered one which got here again to a Russian sounding title.
Weisberg took our “48 Hours” crew into the world he searched and known as Van Sant to the scene when he once more discovered the Chrysler 300 on the coronary heart of this investigation.
Peter Van Sant: That is it.
Herman Weisberg: Yeah.
Peter Van Sant: That is the automotive.
Herman Weisberg: That is the automotive, yeah.
Peter Van Sant: Have a look inside. You see the stitching?
Herman Weisberg: Yeah. Arduous to overlook now.
Peter Van Sant: There it’s.
Herman Weisberg:Â Now you see how distinctive it’s, proper?
Peter Van Sant: Yeah. … That is solely an space of 8.5 million folks. And also you discovered the automotive.
Herman Weisberg: It wasn’t a needle in a haystack. You needed to discover the haystack first.
And when Weisberg went to the deal with related to that automotive, the constructing appeared acquainted. Weisberg had seen it earlier than — in one other considered one of Viktoria’s selfies.
CBS Information
Herman Weisberg: While you have a look at it and also you see that — that phone pole and the placement of that manhole cowl and that manhole cowl … Should you look over there, you have obtained the phone pole and you have got the 2 manhole covers.
Peter Van Sant: That is good, Herman. Via that reflection … in her — in her glasses, you determine that is the house constructing the place the person who owns that Chrysler 300 lives. And with Viktoria within the image, you considering she may be dwelling with this man?
Herman Weisberg: It—she — it seems to be like she took a selfie there. And it — and all of it begins to make sense.
Amazingly, the girl Russian authorities needed for the homicide of Nadia’s mom, was now dwelling along with her boyfriend in Nadia’s personal yard.
Nadia Ford: Â 4 or 5 blocks away.
Peter Van Sant: You gotta be kidding me.
Nadia Ford: No.
Peter Van Sant: Did you attempt to go discover her?
Nadia Ford: No.
Peter Van Sant: Why?
Nadia Ford: ‘Trigger I might kill her.
Herman Weisberg: We obtained fortunate early on. And we noticed Viktoria and her boyfriend out right here.
The boyfriend was the proprietor of the Chrysler 300 and lived in that house constructing.
That boyfriend instructed “48 Hours” that he finally turned considered one of Viktoria’s victims himself. He says not solely did she steal from him, however that she killed his beloved beagle “Joey.”
Herman Weisberg: Apparently Viktoria … obtained very jealous of the canine getting the entire highlight in that home, and determined to poison the beagle, allegedly … on the beagle’s birthday. I am a canine lover, in order that’s robust.
And Joey the beagle’s demise did not sit nicely with Viktoria’s neighbors, both.
Karen Hill: She killed his canine, that bitch. She killed his canine.
Herman Weisberg: Each time you be taught one thing else about this girl, you understand that if she was left un-arrested, this coulda actually ended poorly for Brooklyn (laughs).
However now Weisberg knew the hunt was lastly over. He says he known as Interpol and Homeland Safety however neither one agreed to take motion. So, he alerted the NYPD and on March 20, 2017, the police made their transfer. The girl who had as soon as posed as a dominatrix, immediately discovered herself in handcuffs.
Gregory P. Mango
Nadia Ford: I simply cried. I — I could not imagine that it is truly occurred. … It is a miracle.
Detective Kevin Rodgers could not imagine it when his telephone rang.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: Brooklyn advises us they’d this girl, Viktoria Nasyrova, of their custody.
Rodgers says the cheesecake case immediately began making sense.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: Olga had one thing that Viktoria needed, and it wasn’t cash. And it wasn’t purses.
He says the moment he began reviewing police proof photographs he noticed one thing that made it clear precisely what Viktoria was after. An ID of Olga’s was present in Viktoria’s house — the image appeared eerily much like Viktoria herself.
Olga Tsvyk | ViktoriaNasyrova/Fb
Det. Kevin Rodgers: I believe she needed to kill this girl and assume her identification.
To again up his idea, Rodgers knew he would want to show that Olga’s cheesecake had been poisoned. When he despatched the container from Olga’s residence to a lab, they discovered nothing. However when Rodgers determined to ship it for extra intensive testing, he obtained successful.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: Phenazepam is a sedative … primarily used on the time in Russia.
Peter Van Sant: It makes you sleepy?
Olga Tsvyk: Sleepy, then coma, then demise.
Rodgers realized that Phenazepam is very harmful in a scorching setting. Bear in mind, the heater in Olga’s room had been left on excessive. And Viktoria’s DNA was on the cheesecake field.
Peter Van Sant:Â All these items of the puzzle.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: Puzzle.
Peter Van Sant: They’ve come collectively.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: Completely.
Peter Van Sant: And, so, you suppose this was — this was a deliberate homicide.
Det. Kevin Rodgers: Completely.
Viktoria was charged with tried homicide for the assault on Olga, assault and grand larceny. Earlier than trial, she agreed to take a seat down with “48 Hours” at New York’s Rikers Island Jail.
VIKTORIA NASYROVA COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH “48 HOURS” — AND A JURY
We would heard merciless and colourful tales about Viktoria Nasyrova for months, so in 2017, when “48 Hours” interviewed her in jail as authorities investigated her for tried homicide in Olga’s case, we weren’t positive what to anticipate.
Peter Van Sant (holding picture of Nadia and Alla): Would you have a look at this.
Viktoria Nasyrova: Yeah.
Peter Van Sant: That is Alla.
Viktoria Nasyrova: Sure.
She insisted she had nothing to do with the disappearance of Nadia’s mom Alla.
CBS Information
Peter Van Sant: Viktoria, did you kill Alla?Â
Viktoria Nasyrova: No.
Peter Van Sant: Â You didn’t.
Viktoria Nasyrova: No.
Peter Van Sant:There is a girl named Olga who seems to be loads such as you who claims that you simply tried to kill her by giving her a chunk of poisoned cheesecake. … You needed her lifeless so you might steal her identification.
Viktoria Nasyrova: I do know whom you imply. I do know this younger girl. I can let you know that … I didn’t drive her to eat it.
Peter Van Sant: You are telling me all of those accusations towards you … all of that’s false?
Viktoria Nasyrova: No. … I admit doing part of it, however I’ll solely discuss it on the trial.
Viktoria Nasyrova can be in custody for almost six years, because the pandemic triggered delays, earlier than she stood trial for the poisoning of Olga Tsvyk. When the case went to court docket in January 2023, the media have been watching.
Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: There are components on this case you will not discover wherever else. The beautician, the cheesecake …
Peter Van Sant: In all of the proof you will have on this case, what’s a very powerful in your opinion?
Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: We’re taking a look at it proper right here. It is this container…
CBS Information
The cheesecake field from Olga’s rubbish nonetheless has crumbs left inside. Outlandish as it’s, prosecutor Litourgis tells jurors in opening statements they need to see it as a possible homicide weapon.
PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): This isn’t a joke. It is not only a story. This defendant meant to kill this girl and steal her identification.
He calls Olga first, to focus on the human penalties.
PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): And she or he’s going to elucidate to you every little thing that occurred to her. Every little thing that she will be able to bear in mind, after all.
Prosecutor. Dino Litourgis: She was poisoned with one thing that impacted her reminiscence.
Cameras weren’t allowed to file witness testimony. Olga makes it clear that speaking concerning the particulars of her ordeal continues to be like reliving a foul dream and testifying in entrance of her alleged attacker traumatizes her all of the extra.
Peter Van Sant: Was she taking a look at you?
Olga Tsvyk: Uh, yeah, she checked out me.
Peter Van Sant: What did you see on her face, in her eyes?
Olga Tsvyk: Um, , she’s smiling.
The state additionally calls Nadia Ford.
Nadia Ford: She was smiling. … She was smirking.
Nadia Ford: I used to be making an attempt to get — get her look, have a look at me. Take a look at the one that mom you killed. Look — look into my eyes, bear in mind them for the remainder of your life.
The decide has strictly restricted prosecutors from going into specifics concerning the homicide fees going through Viktoria in Russia, so that they’re hoping Nadia can finesse the small print and nonetheless get the purpose throughout.
Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: I will let you know it was a dangerous technique.
Peter Van Sant: What has she instructed them that you simply suppose helps your case?
Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: What she instructed the jury … is that one thing severe occurred in Russia. … It is one factor for me to say the crime was severe and it is one other factor for a witness to come back in and present … along with her physique language, along with her eyes, along with her general demeanor, that this was an extremely severe crime that Viktoria Nasyrova was needed for.
Nadia Ford: I used to be watching her. I simply her to have a look at me. She did not have a look at me as soon as.
Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: I used to be virtually sure at first of the trial that Viktoria was going to testify. … I do know that she likes to speak.
CBS Information/Liz Caholo
Because it turned out, Viktoria declined to testify and reply questions. However one thing she did say made it into the trial. One thing she mentioned to Peter Van Sant in part of her “48 Hours” interview printed on-line.
PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): It is in proof. Peter Van Sant requested this girl in English. “There is a girl named Olga who claims that you simply tried to kill her by giving her a chunk of poisoned cheesecake.”Â
Litourgis has somebody learn her reply into the file.
VIktoria Nasyrova (replying to Peter Van Sant) I do know whom you imply. I do know this younger girl. I can let you know that. … however I didn’t drive her to eat it.
Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: For me as a person — she’s responsible … with that assertion.
He factors out to the jury that nowhere in Victoria’s reply to does she truly deny poisoning the cheesecake.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): Ms. Nasyrova will not be responsible of those fees!
However protection legal professional Christopher Hoyt does not name a single witness to assist him show it. As a substitute, he argues the spectacle of this case obscures the specifics: particulars that quantity to cheap doubt.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): There isn’t a direct proof of anybody seeing Viktoria Nasyrova placing Phenazepam in cheesecake.
He reminds the jury Olga’s medical doctors did not discover something uncommon in her system. And he says there was nothing notably uncommon about Viktoria’s life in New York, both.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): She’s been simply dwelling within the U.S. utilizing her regular title …
That is simply the purpose, says the prosecutor. Victoria’s US visa was set to run out. She was terrified of going through fees in Russia and wanted a brand new identification to assist her conceal.
PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): There’s solely two classes of individuals … that want another person’s ID … you will have faculty children below the age of 21 who need to borrow their buddies’ ID to go drink after which then again, you will have worldwide fugitives who want somebody’s ID as a lifeline to remain on this nation and never return to Russia.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): This isn’t a case about what occurred in Russia…
And the protection insists that even when Viktoria poisoned the cheesecake, it isn’t sufficient to show she needed Olga lifeless.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): I undergo you that they haven’t confirmed that intent.
PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): This case has greater than it’s good to conclude past an inexpensive doubt that this defendant is responsible.
However will the jury agree?
VERDICT: WERE POISON CHEESECAKE – & JUSTICE – SERVED?
Peter Van Sant: When this jury goes out to deliberate, what is going on by your thoughts?
Prosecutor Melinda Katz: What is going on by my thoughts is that they perceive — the diabolical … calculation that occurred for this crime.
Prosecutor Dino Litrougis’ boss, Queens District Lawyer Melinda Katz says Viktoria Nasyrova is loads smarter and extra dedicated than the common prison defendant.
Prosecutor Melinda Katz: It takes endurance, and it takes planning.
However it takes the jury in her trial solely an hour-and-a-half to achieve a verdict.
MAN IN COURT: How say you in depend quantity one of many indictment charging the defendant Viktoria Nasyrova with tried homicide within the second diploma … responsible or not responsible?
JUROR: Responsible.
Responsible of tried homicide within the second diploma.
Peter Van Sant: Have been there tears?
Olga Tsvyk: Sure.
At sentencing, Olga tells the court docket her struggling went on lengthy after Viktoria’s assault.
CBS Information/Liz Caholo
OLGA TSVYK (in court docket): She triggered me to lose belief in folks. I’ve problem to belief folks and I can’t know for positive what their true intentions are. … I’m grateful that this particular person can be punished for what she did to me.
The utmost punishment is 25 years in jail. Â However at sentencing, Decide Kenneth Holder provides her much less.
JUDGE KENNETH HOLDER: You’re an especially harmful girl. … I sentence you to 21 years in jail.
With credit score for time served, Viktoria could also be out in 15. Even so, she has some selection phrases for the court docket as she is led away, barely audible below her masks.
VIKTORIA NASYROVA: F*** you.
Herman Weisberg: She’s a narcissistic, homicidal maniac. That is what narcissistic, homicidal maniacs say after they — one thing— every little thing goes dangerous for them.
Victoria’s time behind bars has already been tough. In 2018 at Rikers Island jail in New York, she was assaulted by fellow inmates and suffered a number of accidents to her face.
And when she’s achieved serving her time in America, Viktoria faces deportation and homicide fees again in Russia.
Peter Van Sant (to Nadia after sentencing): I do know there’s nice satisfaction for you that Viktoria’s lastly going to jail. However it’s not for what she did to your mother. Is that also an vacancy inside for you?
Nadia Ford: I really feel higher. … at the very least I do know, now for subsequent 15 years, she’s not going to harm anybody.
Two of the folks Viktoria has damage most have resolved to attract energy from one another. Since tragedy unexpectedly introduced them collectively, Nadia and Olga have turn into the most effective of associates.
Olga Tsvyk: After we met, I really feel like I — I knew Nadia all my life.
Nadia Ford: She’s very form, very good, open hearted, like, , Sort of jogs my memory of my mother.
Olga Tsvyk: Nadia … She went by hell.
They appear to understand it takes one sufferer of Viktoria Nasyrova to actually perceive one other.
Peter Van Sant: Do you suppose the 2 of you can be associates for all times?Â
Olga Tsvyk: I believe, sure.
In 2018, Viktoria Nasyrova sued New York Metropolis for negligence within the Rikers Island jail assault. Town settled the case, paying Nasyrova $325,000.
Produced by Josh Yager. Stephen A. McCain is the event producer. Richard Barber is the producer-editor. Morgan Canty is the affiliate producer. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.