How Could You? Hall of Shame-Joshua Rukovishnikoff case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From St. Paul Island, Alaska, 2-year-old Joshua Rukovishnikoff was killed in his foster home on December 12, 2021. Steven Melovidov, 31, and Sophie Myers-Melovidov, 28, are “charged with killing a 2-year-old boy who was placed in their care two months ago — after the toddler’s father allegedly strangled his mother to death.

The couple, who had only become guardians of the toddler in October, sent text messages that said they hit the child in the head, an arrest affidavit for the couple said, according to The Anchorage Daily News.

Joshua has been put in foster care after mom Nadesda Rukovishnikoff was apparently choked to death by her husband, also Joshua Rukovishnikoff.

Joshua’s guardians claimed the child hit his head and went into seizures on Dec. 11, the affidavit said. But an autopsy after the child was declared dead at a hospital revealed five separate head injuries and suspicious bruises on the boy’s genitals, the Daily News reported.

Myers-Melovidov’s texts to her husband said she was “scared and worried,” the affidavit showed.

“Hopefully doctors and nurses and whoever checks him won’t call (the Office of Children’s Services) or the police,” she wrote, according to the Daily News. “Please delete this text after you read.”

When they scanned the boy’s head, she texted, “Gees and we’ve been hitting his head. Please delete our texts now.” The couple is also accused of directing their 8-year-old daughter to lie to investigators.

The couple is facing charges of first- and second-degree murder.”

2-year old killed in foster care months after father strangled mother: cops
[NY Post 1/1/22 by Mark Lungariello]

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