In Germany, a couple suspected of murdering Ukrainian refugees has confessed to the crime

A German couple suspected of the high-profile murder of 51-year-old Ukrainian refugee Marina Stetsenko and her 27-year-old daughter Margarita, allegedly to take the latter’s newborn baby, have confessed to the crime.

European media report that.

A court in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, has begun hearings against the 45-year-old woman and 43-year-old man. Their sentencing is expected in February. Both expressed remorse for their actions.

According to the investigation, the couple committed the murders out of a desire to have a child. During their preparations, the woman joined a Telegram support group for Ukrainian refugees and contacted the 27-year-old victim, who was seeking a translator for her upcoming childbirth.

On March 6, 2024, during a visit to a restaurant, the couple secretly gave sedatives to both women. They then pretended to take the unwell 51-year-old Marina to the hospital while bringing the 27-year-old Margarita and her newborn daughter home. The man then killed Marina at a lake in Bad Schönborn, striking her on the head multiple times with an unknown object. Later, he murdered Margarita in Hockenheim in the same manner and burned her body. After the killings, the couple returned home with the baby.

They were soon apprehended.

As for the infant, the now 11-month-old girl lives in Ukraine with her aunt.

Last year, media outlets reported that the police initially found Margarita’s body while her daughter and mother were considered missing. Shortly afterward, the suspects were arrested with the child in their custody, and Marina’s body was discovered a few days later.