Viktoria Nasyrova case: Poisoned cheesecake used as a weapon in an tried homicide a primary for NY investigators

In his 20-year profession as a New York police detective, Kevin Rodgers says he by no means met the likes of Viktoria Nasyrova.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: She is a really colourful felony …

Det. Kevin Rodgers: Extraordinarily brazen. Diabolical.

Even the road smarts of a profession cop left him unprepared for what he says she did.

Kevin Rodgers: I’ve by no means handled a case the place cheesecake that is laced with poison is utilized …

It began on Sept. 2, 2016, with what appeared like a routine name.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: It was a name from patrol stating that now we have a — a girl … advising that there are gadgets lacking from her bed room.

The lady was a magnificence stylist named Olga Tsvyk, who did eyelash extensions at a close-by salon. Patrol officers informed Rodgers she’d reported gadgets, together with purses, had vanished from her residence.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: I seize my companion … and we headed out to this, uh, lady’s home.

She informed Rodgers she had simply returned residence from the hospital, the place she stated she’d been out and in of consciousness with extreme dizziness and nausea.

When he bought to the scene, Olga, a Ukrainian immigrant, nonetheless appeared a bit woozy.

Peter Van Sant: Are you able to bear in mind in any respect … the police asking you questions?

Olga Tsvyk: (Sighs) No, I do not bear in mind.

She says the one factor she remembered was {that a} frantic consumer from the salon had come to her home — a Russian lady named Viktoria Nasyrova, who had wished her eyelashes prolonged in a rush.

Det. Kevin Rodgers:” I would like an emergency eyelash restore accomplished. Please, please, please.” … Olga stated, “I by no means have accomplished that earlier than … each bit of labor I do is in my salon.”

Olga had informed her consumer she had no appointments obtainable. However she says Viktoria was within the behavior of being pushy – she’d repeatedly prompt they spend time collectively exterior of labor.

Olga Tsvyk: She begins appearing like she’s my pal, you realize?

Feeling uneasy, Olga had refused Viktoria’s affords to hang around. And he or she seen one thing else about Viktoria — one thing visually unsettling: an uncanny bodily resemblance.

Olga Tsvyk: I assumed she seemed like me.

Whereas Olga had turned down socializing with Viktoria, she relented to her pleas for eyelash assist and informed her to return over. Olga’s uneasy feeling returned when Viktoria confirmed up at her door with three small slices of cheesecake.

Olga Tsvyk: It is from, like well-known bakery, like well-known cheesecake.

Olga says Viktoria shortly wolfed up two of the slices, after which insisted Olga attempt the final one.

Peter Van Sant: Did you eat the whole piece?

Olga Tsvyk: Sure, it is like small piece.

Peter Van Sant: And what occurred?

Olga Tsvyk: I bought sick.

She stated she threw up violently.

Peter Van Sant: And?

Olga Tsvyk: Then after that, I do not bear in mind something.

Peter Van Sant: So, she tells you this story, what are you considering?

Det. Kevin Rodgers:  I’m suspicious.

With Olga appearing woozy, Rodgers puzzled if she was a drug person.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: I stated to her, I says, Olga, I stated, I wish to imagine you, nonetheless, this does not add up. … However she was adamant, adamant. This one hundred pc occurred, and this lady is as much as one thing.

Within the rubbish, Rodgers did see one thing.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: I walked over to the wastepaper basket and proper there … was this plastic container with what seemed to be the remnants of pastry, one thing that seemed good.

Olga recognized it because the cheesecake field. Rodgers informed his proof staff to bag it and tag it. No matter had been in that field, Olga stated it had made her very sick.

Peter Van Sant: You nearly died.

Olga Tsvyk: Yeah, I used to be in coma 34 minutes.

However Olga admits docs did not discover something suspicious in her system. Nonetheless, she informed Rodgers she was hospitalized twice. He referred to as the hospitals to substantiate however says they would not reveal affected person info.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: Which once more led me to imagine that possibly she wasn’t telling the reality.

Rodgers did attempt to discover Viktoria Nasyrova however could not.

Peter Van Sant: It appears like at that time this case … is nearly over.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: Lifeless.

However a number of months later, the case got here again to life when Rodgers discovered a brand new witness: a neighbor of Olga’s, who reported seeing a girl visiting her the day after the alleged cheesecake incident.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: He informed me {that a} lady had come and gone … a number of instances.

The neighbor stated the mysterious lady had informed him Olga was sick. And when he went to examine on Olga he walked right into a surreal scene and referred to as an ambulance. Her room was like a sauna. Somebody had turned the warmth on full blast though it was a sizzling August day. And Olga was handed out within the mattress, barely dressed.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: When she is found … she is found on this kind of racy lingerie.

Olga was surprised by this element as a result of she had been sporting sweatpants.

Peter Van Sant: So, somebody modified you.

Olga Tsvyk: Yeah.

Peter Van Sant: Modified your garments.

Olga Tsvyk: Yeah.

And there was extra. Tablets had been strewn all around the flooring. Rodgers puzzled: had somebody tried to kill Olga after which staged the scene to make it seem like a suicide? Rodgers realized that Olga had most likely been telling the reality all alongside.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: I do should make that kind of uncomfortable apology to her of, I am actually sorry for not believing you one hundred pc at first.

Rodgers now turned his consideration once more to discovering the suspect on this case — Olga’s consumer, Viktoria Nasyrova. However the place was she? Rodgers had no means of figuring out that another person was additionally looking for her.

His identify is Herman Weisberg. He is a non-public eye and a retired New York Metropolis detective. Weisberg was monitoring Viktoria by advertisements on Russian relationship websites and social media, the place he says a few of her outreach appeared designed for a distinct segment viewers.

Herman Weisberg: She was promoting her providers as a dominatrix slash escort.

He believed Viktoria was utilizing on-line advertisements to commit crimes of alternative.

Herman Weisberg: She would knock out with knockout medication … taking cash, watches, jewellery, no matter she may get.

And he suspected Viktoria had accomplished one thing a lot worse.

OLGA TSVYK FINDS SHE IS NOT ALONE

With the fog of her mysterious sickness behind her, Olga Tsvyk says she went again to work, sharing the story of her harrowing ordeal. That is when one other consumer informed her one thing she by no means anticipated to listen to.

Olga Tsvyk: She stated, “you realize, considered one of my husband pal, I feel any individual additionally drug him … his identify is Ruben.”

The consumer put Olga in contact with the opposite drugging sufferer — a person named Ruben Borukhov.

About two months earlier than Olga ate that cheesecake, Ruben, who ran a close-by dry-cleaning enterprise, met a girl on a Russian relationship website. Her identify? Viktoria Nasyrova.

Ruben Borukhov: She stated she’s an excellent cook dinner and I stated I like to eat.

The 2 organized to fulfill at her place for dinner. 

Ruben Borukhov: I simply took one chunk of fish, and I used to be out of it in 5 minutes.

Ruben says he handed out, and Viktoria allegedly went on a procuring spree.

Ruben Borukhov: She took, like, $800, possibly $1,000 in my — all collectively in money, $2,400 in American Specific.

Peter Van Sant: So, she’s livin’ excessive on the hog in your cash.

Ruben Borukhov: Completely. … After which she introduced me right here (walks over to a chair in his retailer and sits down).

Two days later, Ruben had nonetheless been out of it when Viktoria actually took him to the cleaners. One among Ruben’s workers recorded video.

Ruben Borukhov: She is strolling right here and there and making some tales to my staff. “Oh, we had wine! He drank two bottle of wine.” … I do not bear in mind nothing.

As Viktoria talks to the employees, the digital camera catches a glimpse of her sitting within the boss’s chair.

FEMALE VOICE ON VIDEO: Possibly he take capsule or one thing, proper?

Fortunately, Ruben’s sister referred to as an ambulance. Viktoria would flee the scene earlier than it arrived, however not earlier than cleansing him out

Ruben Borukhov (exhibits Van Sant the within of a protected): I’ve some cash within the basement, couple hundred right here, she took it, she took the watch.

And Ruben believes Viktoria practically took much more than that.

Peter Van Sant: Did you nearly die?

Ruben Borukhov: I feel so … that is how I used to be.

Herman Weisberg: Oh. He was a sick man.

However non-public eye Herman Weisberg says when it to involves Viktoria Nasyrova, Olga and Ruben might have been the fortunate ones. In 2017, Weisberg started working with Nadia Ford. Nadia stated her mom Alla Alekseenko, with whom she was very shut, had gone lacking again residence in Russia.

Peter Van Sant: And, so, daily you’ll speak to her?

Nadia Ford: Daily.

Nadia says earlier than her mom disappeared, she had talked about making a brand new greatest pal. The pal’s identify? Viktoria Nasyrova. Earlier than Viktoria got here to New York, she was dwelling in Russia, and had grow to be Alla’s neighbor within the condo subsequent door.

Peter Van Sant (holding up images): Right here is your mom … standing subsequent to you. … And right here is Viktoria. … They usually seem to be an odd couple. 

Nadia Ford: Proper.

Peter Van Sant:  You simply would not suppose they’d hang around with one another.

Nadia Ford:  She was all the time attempting to be very pleasant along with her. You recognize, and my mother, she belief everybody. 

Within the fall of 2014, Alla had informed Nadia she can be sending her daughter particular items. Her new greatest pal Viktoria would deliver them. Viktoria can be carrying $6,000 in money and different valuables, together with two fur coats, to be hand delivered to Nadia. However Viktoria by no means confirmed, and on October 5, Nadia tried to name her mom however could not attain her.

Peter Van Sant: What number of instances did you name your mom that day, October fifth?

Nadia Ford:  Oh, so much. So much. Like 100.

Peter Van Sant Actually? 100 instances?

Nadia Ford: At the least. At the least. … I attempted the whole lot.

Peter Van Sant And he or she wouldn’t reply?

Nadia Ford: No.

Peter Van Sant: So, what are you considering?

Nadia Ford: I bought afraid as a result of for eight years she by no means occurred that she did not reply the telephone. By no means.

Nadia says she had discovered Viktoria’s sudden friendship along with her mother suspicious. And that suspicion solely grew when she accessed her mom’s cellphone data on-line.

Peter Van Sant: I noticed the final one who referred to as her. It was Viktoria.

The decision had are available at 11 p.m., and there have been no different calls after it.

Nadia Ford: And that is it. After which my coronary heart dropped. …I simply cried. I simply left the whole lot.

Nadia left the whole lot in her Brooklyn condo and headed straight for the airport.

Nadia Ford: I simply began to have this sense that one thing occurred. … One thing horrible.

Peter Van Sant: One thing horrible occurred.

About two years later, “48 Hours” introduced Nadia again to her hometown of Krasnodar, about 800 miles south of Moscow close to the Black Sea, to point out us how she launched her personal investigation into her mom’s disappearance.

First, Nadia satisfied Viktoria to fulfill her exterior her mother’s condo constructing, the place she confronted her. She says Viktoria loudly insisted Alla was alive.

Nadia Ford: After which she ran up the steps after which I am like, “The place are you going?’ Why are you operating?”

Peter Van Sant: And he or she runs up right here, are you chasing her?

Nadia Ford: Precisely, yeah.

Nadia informed us she notified police and took them inside her mom’s condo. She shortly realized the place had been looted.

Nadia Ford: (going by drawers): So, once I stroll into the condo … nothing.

Peter Van Sant: Bank cards gone?

Nadia Ford: Nothing. Nothing.

Household heirlooms and costly jewellery — gone. And whoever did this additionally stole most of her mom’s life’s financial savings: $40,000 Alla stored in a secret hideaway.

Nadia Ford: And should you take this off and it is proper over there. (exhibits Van Sant the realm the place her mom had hidden the money)

It was gone. And so far as Nadia may inform, so was Viktoria. 

Peter Van Sant: What are the police and the district legal professional and what are these individuals saying to you? 

Nadia Ford: Simply wait … She’s gonna come again.

Undaunted, Nadia carried on her search, crisscrossing the nation posting flyers. She pleaded with Viktoria by textual content.

Nadia Ford: “Pay attention, I provide you with the whole lot. My condo, cash, you identify it. … Please simply give me my mother again.”  

Nadia feared she was getting nowhere when she had an thought.

Peter Van Sant (in automobile with Nadia): Nadia, the place are we proper now?

Nadia Ford: We’re on a freeway that — Viktoria had my mother.

She’d seen that the majority primary roads had site visitors cameras. What if considered one of them had photographed Viktoria the night time Nadia’s mom went lacking?

Peter Van Sant: However you gotta get entry to those pictures. How do you try this?

Nadia Ford: It is Russia. You purchase issues. You’ve cash. You purchase issues.

She checked each digital camera round city and circled outward. About 100 miles from the condo.

Nadia hit paydirt.

Nadia Ford: (pointing to site visitors digital camera): That is the digital camera, you see, proper there. That is the digital camera that confirmed my mother was with Viktoria.

Photos from that site visitors digital camera modified the whole lot. The images look blurry, however Nadia was sure that Viktoria Nasyrova is behind the wheel — and equally certain she knew who’s sitting within the passenger seat: her mother. 

Peter Van Sant: Little doubt in your thoughts?

Nadia Ford: No.

Peter Van Sant: And what is the date that this image was taken?

Nadia Ford: October fifth within the morning. Ten o’clock.

Peter Van Sant: October fifth. The day that you simply misplaced all communication with your personal mom.

If the image could possibly be believed, it meant her mom may nonetheless be alive.

Nadia Ford: This digital camera gave me hope. 

Nadia referred to as Russian police in regards to the photos and was shocked at their response.

Peter Van Sant: What does the detective say?

Nadia Ford: He stated, “I do know. I’ve these photos.”

With investigators now working the case, Nadia says they confirmed that Viktoria rented the automobile with plates matching what was seen on the site visitors digital camera. They tracked her down and introduced her in for a lie detector take a look at. However earlier than the outcomes may come again, unbeknownst to the cops, Viktoria caught the primary flight out of Russia.

ON THE TRAIL OF A FUGITIVE

Nadia Ford: She can’t get away with this.

With Viktoria on the run, Nadia desperately continued her seek for her mom — hoping in opposition to hope to search out her alive.

Nadia Ford:  I devoted my life to that. … I give up the whole lot and everybody. … I … did not imagine … that my mother just isn’t alive.

However hope turned to heartbreak in April 2015 when she bought a disturbing telephone name. Charred human stays had been present in a distant space a few two-hour drive from Alla’s condo. Authorities referred to as Nadia in to make an identification.

Nadia Ford: I stated, “No. That is not her. No. It is — it is simply stays.” … After which a couple of minutes later, I began her tooth.

Peter Van Sant: And also you knew. You knew it was your mom.

Nadia Ford: Yeah. And yeah. So, I principally acknowledged my mother by her tooth.

The Russian city of Armavir is about 110 miles from Krasnodar. It is necessary to this case as a result of it is the place Viktoria Nasyrova grew up — and the place Alla’s physique was dumped.

Nadia Ford: The physique was right here.

Nadia Ford: Viktoria took the whole lot from me. My household, my life, my mother, my the whole lot.

By this time, Interpol already had issued a global arrest warrant for Viktoria Nasyrova in Alla’s homicide.

Nadia went residence to Brooklyn decided as ever to trace down Viktoria Nasyrova. On a whim, she turned to Fb. And you will by no means guess whose face popped up on the display screen.

Nadia Ford: Viktoria was posting photos … all around the Fb. Checking in at this place and that place. Lovely life. … she flew to Mexico.

Peter Van Sant: Having a good time.

Nadia Ford: Yeah. And from Mexico she flew to New York.

Nadia reported all this to U.S. police and immigration officers. However they could not discover Viktoria. That is when Nadia began working with non-public investigator and former New York Metropolis detective Herman Weisberg. He combed by Viktoria’s Fb profile with an skilled eye for element. 

Herman Weisberg: I by no means have a look at what individuals need me to see on these websites. I am used to the whole lot aside from what’s supposed to attract your consideration in.

Late at night time, Weisberg meticulously studied each {photograph} and made a exceptional discovery proper on Viktoria’s face.

Herman Weisberg: (pointing to a photograph of Viktoria): This specific image was essentially the most helpful. She’s wearin’ the Ray-Ban sun shades … which can be mirrored, and she or he took an awesome image for us to — to see the dashboard of the automobile. … However extra importantly, the stitching on that again headrest.

Peter Van Sant (pointing to the stitching within the picture): This proper right here?

Herman Weisberg: Sure, this black leather-based with a … gentle grey stitching on it. … I made a decision the subsequent morning, I used to be going to be at an enormous car parking zone at a practice station.

He walked row after row of automobiles, peering into home windows, hoping to search out the make and mannequin that had that stitching.

Herman Weisberg: And it is a large hub for the railroads.

Peter Van Sant: Lots of of vehicles in right here.

Herman Weisberg: Yeah. Most likely 1000’s in every single place. So, it is actual simple … to search for the kinda element I used to be searching for.

Then, a Chrysler sedan caught his eye.

Peter Van Sant:  So, you look contained in the automobile and what do you see?

Herman Weisberg: All proper, it is bought the identical stitching.

Peter Van Sant: And — present me in your telephone. … There’s her mirrored sun shades.

Herman Weisberg: Yup. The stitching over right here.

It seems that solely a Chrysler 300 had the stitching and dashboard structure. Now, the exhausting half: discovering the precise automobile Viktoria was driving.

Herman Weisberg: Once more, this was such a wild goose chase at this level.

However Weisberg noticed {that a} collection of likes on Viktoria’s Fb web page had been clustered round Sheepshead Bay, a Russian neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Peter Van Sant: So, you despatched a few of your investigators … to search for considered one of these Chrysler 300s. Did they’ve any luck?

Herman Weisberg:  Nicely, yeah. We discovered a bunch of them. … And the subsequent day I had any individual run the license plates and, fortunately, we discovered one which got here again to a Russian sounding identify.

Weisberg took our “48 Hours” crew into the realm he searched and referred to as Van Sant to the scene when he once more discovered the Chrysler 300 on the coronary heart of this investigation.

Peter Van Sant: That is it.

Herman Weisberg: Yeah.

Peter Van Sant: That is the automobile.

Herman Weisberg: That is the automobile, yeah.

Peter Van Sant: Have a look inside. You see the stitching?

Herman Weisberg: Yeah. Arduous to overlook now.

Peter Van Sant: There it’s.

Herman Weisberg: Now you see how distinctive it’s, proper?

Peter Van Sant: Yeah. … That is solely an space of 8.5 million individuals. And also you discovered the automobile.

Herman Weisberg: It wasn’t a needle in a haystack. You needed to discover the haystack first.

And when Weisberg went to the tackle related to that automobile, the constructing seemed acquainted. Weisberg had seen it earlier than — in one other considered one of Viktoria’s selfies.

Herman Weisberg: If you have a look at it and also you see that — that phone pole and the situation of that manhole cowl and that manhole cowl … In the event you look over there, you’ve got bought the phone pole and you have the 2 manhole covers.

Peter Van Sant: That is sensible, Herman. Via that reflection … in her — in her glasses, you determine that is the condo constructing the place the person who owns that Chrysler 300 lives. And with Viktoria within the image, you considering she is perhaps dwelling with this man?

Herman Weisberg: It—she — it seems to be like she took a selfie there. And it — and all of it begins to make sense.

Amazingly, the lady Russian authorities wished for the homicide of Nadia’s mom, was now dwelling along with her boyfriend in Nadia’s personal yard.

Nadia Ford:  4 or 5 blocks away.

Peter Van Sant: You gotta be kidding me.

Nadia Ford: No.

Peter Van Sant: Did you attempt to go discover her?

Nadia Ford: No.

Peter Van Sant: Why?

Nadia Ford: ‘Trigger I might kill her.

Herman Weisberg: We bought fortunate early on. And we noticed Viktoria and her boyfriend out right here.

The boyfriend was the proprietor of the Chrysler 300 and lived in that condo constructing.

That boyfriend informed “48 Hours” that he finally turned considered one of Viktoria’s victims himself. He says not solely did she steal from him, however that she killed his beloved beagle “Joey.”

Herman Weisberg: Apparently Viktoria … bought very jealous of the canine getting the entire highlight in that home, and determined to poison the beagle, allegedly … on the beagle’s birthday. I am a canine lover, in order that’s powerful.

And Joey the beagle’s demise did not sit properly with Viktoria’s neighbors, both.

Karen Hill: She killed his canine, that bitch. She killed his canine.

Herman Weisberg: Each time you be taught one thing else about this lady, you understand that if she was left un-arrested, this coulda actually ended poorly for Brooklyn (laughs).

However now Weisberg knew the hunt was lastly over. He says he referred to as Interpol and Homeland Safety however neither one agreed to take motion. So, he alerted the NYPD and on March 20, 2017, the police made their transfer. The lady who had as soon as posed as a dominatrix, abruptly discovered herself in handcuffs.

Nadia Ford: I simply cried. I — I could not imagine that it is truly occurred. … It is a miracle.

Detective Kevin Rodgers could not imagine it when his telephone rang.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: Brooklyn advises us that they had this lady, Viktoria Nasyrova, of their custody.

Rodgers says the cheesecake case abruptly began making sense.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: Olga had one thing that Viktoria wished, and it wasn’t cash. And it wasn’t purses.

He says the moment he began reviewing police proof images he noticed one thing that made it clear precisely what Viktoria was after. An ID of Olga’s was present in Viktoria’s condo — the image seemed eerily just like Viktoria herself.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: I feel she wished to kill this lady and assume her identification.

To again up his principle, Rodgers knew he would wish to show that Olga’s cheesecake had been poisoned. When he despatched the container from Olga’s residence to a lab, they discovered nothing. However when Rodgers determined to ship it for extra in depth testing, he bought successful.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: Phenazepam is a sedative … primarily used on the time in Russia.

Peter Van Sant: It makes you sleepy?

Olga Tsvyk: Sleepy, then coma, then dying.

Rodgers realized that Phenazepam is very harmful in a sizzling setting. Bear in mind, the heater in Olga’s room had been left on excessive. And Viktoria’s DNA was on the cheesecake field.

Peter Van Sant:  All these items of the puzzle.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: Puzzle.

Peter Van Sant: They’ve come collectively.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: Completely.

Peter Van Sant: And, so, you suppose this was — this was a deliberate homicide.

Det. Kevin Rodgers: Completely.

Viktoria was charged with tried homicide for the assault on Olga, assault and grand larceny. Earlier than trial, she agreed to sit down down with “48 Hours” at New York’s Rikers Island Jail.

VIKTORIA NASYROVA COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH “48 HOURS” — AND A JURY

We would heard merciless and colourful tales about Viktoria Nasyrova for months, so in 2017, when “48 Hours” interviewed her in jail as authorities investigated her for tried homicide in Olga’s case, we weren’t certain what to anticipate.

Peter Van Sant (holding picture of Nadia and Alla): Would you have a look at this.

Viktoria Nasyrova: Yeah.

Peter Van Sant: That is Alla.

Viktoria Nasyrova: Sure.

She insisted she had nothing to do with the disappearance of Nadia’s mom Alla.

Peter Van Sant: Viktoria, did you kill Alla? 

Viktoria Nasyrova: No.

Peter Van Sant:  You didn’t.

Viktoria Nasyrova: No.

Peter Van Sant:There is a lady named Olga who seems to be so much such as you who claims that you simply tried to kill her by giving her a bit of poisoned cheesecake. … You wished her useless so you possibly can steal her identification.

Viktoria Nasyrova: I do know whom you imply. I do know this younger lady. I can inform you that … I didn’t power her to eat it.

Peter Van Sant: You are telling me all of those accusations in opposition to you … all of that’s false?

Viktoria Nasyrova: No. … I admit doing part of it, however I’ll solely speak about it on the trial.

Viktoria Nasyrova can be in custody for practically six years, because the pandemic precipitated delays, earlier than she stood trial for the poisoning of Olga Tsvyk. When the case went to court docket in January 2023, the media had been watching.

Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: There are components on this case you will not discover anyplace else. The beautician, the cheesecake …

Peter Van Sant: In all of the proof you’ve gotten on this case, what’s an important in your opinion?

Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: We’re it proper right here. It is this container…

The cheesecake field from Olga’s rubbish nonetheless has crumbs left inside. Outlandish as it’s, prosecutor Litourgis tells jurors in opening statements they need to see it as a possible homicide weapon.

PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): This isn’t a joke. It is not only a story. This defendant meant to kill this lady and steal her identification.

He calls Olga first, to focus on the human penalties.

PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): And he or she’s going to elucidate to you the whole lot that occurred to her. All the pieces that she will be able to bear in mind, after all.

Prosecutor. Dino Litourgis: She was poisoned with one thing that impacted her reminiscence.

Cameras weren’t allowed to document witness testimony. Olga makes it clear that speaking in regards to the particulars of her ordeal continues to be like reliving a nasty dream and testifying in entrance of her alleged attacker traumatizes her all of the extra.

Peter Van Sant: Was she you?

Olga Tsvyk: Uh, yeah, she checked out me.

Peter Van Sant: What did you see on her face, in her eyes?

Olga Tsvyk: Um, you realize, she’s smiling.

The state additionally calls Nadia Ford.

Nadia Ford: She was smiling. … She was smirking.

Nadia Ford: I used to be attempting to get — get her look, have a look at me. Take a look at the one that mom you killed. Look — look into my eyes, bear in mind them for the remainder of your life.

The choose has strictly restricted prosecutors from going into specifics in regards to the homicide fees going through Viktoria in Russia, so that they’re hoping Nadia can finesse the main points and nonetheless get the purpose throughout.

Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: I am going to inform you it was a dangerous technique.

Peter Van Sant: What has she informed them that you simply suppose helps your case?

Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: What she informed the jury … is that one thing severe occurred in Russia. … It is one factor for me to say the crime was severe and it is one other factor for a witness to return in and present … along with her physique language, along with her eyes, along with her total demeanor, that this was an extremely severe crime that Viktoria Nasyrova was wished for.

Nadia Ford: I used to be watching her. I simply her to have a look at me. She did not have a look at me as soon as.

Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: I used to be nearly sure at first of the trial that Viktoria was going to testify. … I do know that she likes to speak.

Because it turned out, Viktoria declined to testify and reply questions. However one thing she did say made it into the trial. One thing she stated to Peter Van Sant in part of her “48 Hours” interview revealed on-line.

PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): It is in proof. Peter Van Sant requested this lady in English. “There is a lady named Olga who claims that you simply tried to kill her by giving her a bit of poisoned cheesecake.” 

Litourgis has somebody learn her reply into the document.

VIktoria Nasyrova (replying to Peter Van Sant) I do know whom you imply. I do know this younger lady. I can inform you that. … however I didn’t power her to eat it.

Prosecutor Dino Litourgis: For me as a person — she’s responsible … with that assertion.

He factors out to the jury that nowhere in Victoria’s reply to does she truly deny poisoning the cheesecake.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): Ms. Nasyrova just isn’t responsible of those fees!

However protection legal professional Christopher Hoyt would not name a single witness to assist him show it. As an alternative, he argues the spectacle of this case obscures the specifics: particulars that quantity to cheap doubt.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): There is no such thing as a direct proof of anybody seeing Viktoria Nasyrova placing Phenazepam in cheesecake.

He reminds the jury Olga’s docs did not discover something uncommon in her system. And he says there was nothing notably uncommon about Viktoria’s life in New York, both.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): She’s been simply dwelling within the U.S. utilizing her regular identify …

That is simply the purpose, says the prosecutor. Victoria’s US visa was set to run out. She was afraid of going through fees in Russia and wanted a brand new identification to assist her cover.

PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): There’s solely two classes of individuals … that want another person’s ID … you’ve gotten school children underneath the age of 21 who wish to borrow their buddies’ ID to go drink after which alternatively, you’ve gotten worldwide fugitives who want somebody’s ID as a lifeline to remain on this nation and never return to Russia.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): This isn’t a case about what occurred in Russia…

And the protection insists that even when Viktoria poisoned the cheesecake, it is not sufficient to show she wished Olga useless.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER HOYT (in court docket): I undergo you that they haven’t confirmed that intent.

PROSECUTOR DINO LITOURGIS (in court docket): This case has greater than it is advisable to conclude past an inexpensive doubt that this defendant is responsible.

However will the jury agree?

VERDICT: WERE POISON CHEESECAKE – & JUSTICE – SERVED?

Peter Van Sant: When this jury goes out to deliberate, what is going on by your thoughts?

Prosecutor Melinda Katz: What is going on by my thoughts is that they perceive — the diabolical … calculation that occurred for this crime.

Prosecutor Dino Litrougis’ boss, Queens District Legal professional Melinda Katz says Viktoria Nasyrova is so much smarter and extra dedicated than the typical felony defendant.

Prosecutor Melinda Katz: It takes persistence, and it takes planning.

But it surely takes the jury in her trial solely an hour-and-a-half to succeed in a verdict.

MAN IN COURT: How say you in depend quantity one of many indictment charging the defendant Viktoria Nasyrova with tried homicide within the second diploma … responsible or not responsible?

JUROR: Responsible.

Responsible of tried homicide within the second diploma.

Peter Van Sant: Had been there tears?

Olga Tsvyk: Sure.

At sentencing, Olga tells the court docket her struggling went on lengthy after Viktoria’s assault.

OLGA TSVYK (in court docket): She precipitated me to lose belief in individuals. I’ve problem to belief individuals and I can’t know for certain what their true intentions are. … I’m grateful that this individual will likely be punished for what she did to me.

The utmost punishment is 25 years in jail.  However at sentencing, Decide Kenneth Holder provides her much less.

JUDGE KENNETH HOLDER: You might be an especially harmful lady. … I sentence you to 21 years in jail.

With credit score for time served, Viktoria could also be out in 15. Even so, she has some alternative phrases for the court docket as she is led away, barely audible underneath her masks.

VIKTORIA NASYROVA: F*** you.

Herman Weisberg: She’s a narcissistic, homicidal maniac. That is what narcissistic, homicidal maniacs say after they — one thing— the whole lot goes dangerous for them.

Victoria’s time behind bars has already been tough. In 2018 at Rikers Island jail in New York, she was assaulted by fellow inmates and suffered a number of accidents to her face.

And when she’s accomplished serving her time in America, Viktoria faces deportation and homicide fees again in Russia.

Peter Van Sant (to Nadia after sentencing): I do know there’s nice satisfaction for you that Viktoria’s lastly going to jail. But it surely’s not for what she did to your mother. Is that also an vacancy inside for you?

Nadia Ford: I really feel higher. … at the very least I do know, now for subsequent 15 years, she’s not going to harm anybody.

Two of the individuals Viktoria has harm most have resolved to attract energy from one another. Since tragedy unexpectedly introduced them collectively, Nadia and Olga have grow to be one of the best of pals.

Olga Tsvyk: After we met, I really feel like I — I knew Nadia all my life.

Nadia Ford: She’s very type, very good, open hearted, like, you realize, Form of jogs my memory of my mother.

Olga Tsvyk: Nadia … She went by hell.

They appear to realize it takes one sufferer of Viktoria Nasyrova to really perceive one other.

Peter Van Sant: Do you suppose the 2 of you can be pals for all times? 

Olga Tsvyk: I feel, sure.

In 2018, Viktoria Nasyrova sued New York Metropolis for negligence within the Rikers Island jail assault. Town settled the case, paying Nasyrova $325,000.

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Produced by Josh Yager. Stephen A. McCain is the event producer. Richard Barber is the producer-editor. Morgan Canty is the affiliate producer. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the manager editor. Judy Tygard is the manager producer.