Authorities in the Russian town of Vasilyevo have launched a criminal investigation after a 21-day-old baby died in what officials say was a fall from a fourth-floor apartment window. The incident reportedly took place while the newborn and a five-year-old child were left alone inside the family’s residence.
According to initial reports, passersby discovered the infant on the ground outside the apartment building after hearing screams. Despite immediate attention, the baby was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say preliminary findings suggest the older sibling may have been involved in the fall.
Authorities are examining claims that the five-year-old allegedly threw the baby from the window, possibly out of jealousy. According to The Nightly, a source told a Russian news outlet that, “The older girl was upset that there was another child in the flat, and out of jealousy, she threw the infant out of the window.”
Local reports state that the father was at work at the time of the incident, and the mother had stepped out, leaving both children unattended. Officials have not released information about the whereabouts of the mother when the incident occurred.
The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed that a case has been opened to determine whether negligence played a role and to establish the full sequence of events leading to the tragedy.
In a public statement, investigators said their focus includes understanding why the young children were left unsupervised and whether the actions of the parents contributed to the fatal outcome. “The actions of the parents who left the children unattended, as well as other possible scenarios, are being investigated,” the committee stated.
Community officials, such as Mikhail Afanasyev, the district chief in Zelenodolsk, have expressed condolences. Afanasyev also urged parents to remain alert to the risks of leaving young children unsupervised.