By Canadian Press

Pianist’s wife not guilty by reason of insanity in 2 deaths

Jul 16, 2018 | 1:45 PM

FORT WORTH, Texas — A Texas judge has found the estranged wife of concert pianist Vadym Kholodenko (va-DEEM’ koh-loh-DEHN’-koh) not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2016 deaths of the couple’s two daughters.

Judge Ruben Gonzalez in Fort Worth on Monday then ordered Sofya Tsygankova (tsih-GAN’-koh-vah), who was charged with capital murder, committed to a state mental hospital. The defence and prosecutors agreed with the ruling.

The Ukranian-born Kholodenko in 2013 won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth.

He found his daughters — 5-year-old Nika and 1-year-old Michaela — dead in their suburban home in March 2016. The parents had filed for divorce a few months earlier.

Prosecutors alleged Tsygankova smothered her children. She initially was deemed unfit for trial, but received mental health treatment and last year was ruled competent.

'Inspiring Student Success'

Indigenous students enjoy learning about their culture at special conference

49m ago

DON'T WASTE IT

Lacombe encouraging residents to treat water as precious resource

9h ago

Ground School Training

New aviation career pathway elevates opportunities for students

19h ago

___

This story has corrected the woman’s first name to Sofya, not Sonya.

The Associated Press