A Pennsylvania woman’s body was discovered concealed in plastic and hidden in a closet in her own home, sparking a criminal investigation that is shrouded in mystery and memory. The deceased, Lola Karabaeva, 61, was found in her Bustleton, Philadelphia home on Wednesday, as reported by the Philadelphia Police Department. Her husband, Vladimir Lushevskiy, 65, is currently facing a charge of abuse of a corpse, with the possibility of additional charges pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The investigation, led by homicide detectives, is also examining a death that occurred two decades ago, which could potentially play a significant role in the unfolding case. In 2004, the couple’s son, Evgeniy “Eugene” Lushevskiy, 19, disappeared during a hiking trip on Mount Baldy in Claremont, California. The young man, originally from Uzbekistan, was last seen alive on October 31, 2004, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit.
An early snowfall that night complicated the search for Eugene. His backpack was found near the summit of Mount Baldy a week later, containing his video camera which held footage of his trip. Despite the challenging weather conditions and difficult terrain, the search continued for several years. In 2010, human remains were found in a hazardous canyon area and were confirmed to be Eugene’s in 2011.
Law enforcement sources, as reported by CBS News, suggest that the couple’s past loss may have sparked a fatal argument between Karabaeva and her husband. This theory is partly based on the date Karabaeva was last seen alive, October 12, which coincidentally is her son’s birthday. Surveillance footage shows Karabaeva returning home that night, struggling with the front door before entering.
Neighbors reported seeing Karabaeva’s husband moving vehicles in and out of their property the following day. The woman’s car was later found in a nearby church parking lot. The discovery of Karabaeva’s body, wrapped in plastic and taped to a board in a closet, followed soon after. The cause of Karabaeva’s death is yet to be determined by the police.