95-year-old woman charged with murder for beating Holocaust survivor at Brooklyn nursing home.
A 95-year-old woman has been charged with murder following a fatal incident at a nursing home in Brooklyn, where she allegedly attacked an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor. Police reported that the altercation occurred at approximately 10:25 p.m. on Sunday at the Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, located on W. 29th Street near Surf Avenue in Coney Island.
The accused, identified as Galina Smirnova, purportedly used a piece of metal from a wheelchair to repeatedly strike Nina Kravtsov in the head during a dispute. Emergency medical personnel transported Kravtsov to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn; however, despite immediate medical attention, she succumbed to her injuries early the following morning, at 5:39 a.m. on Monday.
Smirnova, who is reported to have dementia, was taken to South Brooklyn Health for a psychiatric evaluation as authorities assessed the appropriate charges. By Wednesday morning, she faced arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court on charges of murder and possession of a weapon.
Kravtsov had been residing at the Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center since 2020. Following the incident, nursing home officials contacted her daughter, Lucy Flom, who resides in Florida, to inform her of the severity of her mother’s condition. Flom expressed her disbelief over the circumstances surrounding her mother’s injury and rushed to New York, managing to speak to Kravtsov briefly before her passing. Flom recounted that she communicated her love to her mother during that final conversation.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with nursing home staff providing limited information and stating that a thorough inquiry is underway. Flom expressed concerns regarding the specifics of the event, particularly due to the locked door security measures in place within the facility.
This case marks a rare and somber occurrence in New York City, with Smirnova becoming one of the oldest individuals to face murder charges in the region’s history. Such incidents evoke the broader challenges surrounding the care of elderly populations, especially those with cognitive impairments. Previous instances of violence involving older suspects have also been recorded, highlighting the complexities faced by nursing homes in managing the behavioral health of residents.
As this story develops, it underscores the urgent need for dialogue concerning the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals in care facilities.
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