Tragic Deaths of Children in Krasnoyarsk: Investigative Findings
The Investigative Committee of Russia has reported that components of an insecticide were discovered on the dishes of a family in Krasnoyarsk Krai, where four children tragically died from suspected poisoning. The investigation began after the hospitalization of the family on September 21, following a meal that included raw chicken and dumplings purchased the day before. The children, aged between six and thirteen, fell ill after consuming the food. Despite medical efforts, the six-year-old girl, nine-year-old boy, eleven-year-old girl, and thirteen-year-old girl succumbed to their illnesses, while the parents and an unborn child were saved.
Investigation Details and Findings
The Investigative Committee's findings indicate that the active components of the insecticide matched the labeling on the cans seized from local stores and the manufacturer's facility. The investigation is focusing on the hypothesis that the children ingested the insecticide components. Initial assumptions suggested that the family might have been poisoned by contaminated food or toxic substances introduced during cooking. However, further examinations revealed that the food products met safety standards, making the insecticide exposure a more likely cause of the tragedy.
In a key development, it was revealed that the father had treated their home with dichlorvos, an insecticide, prior to the incident. He admitted that the house was not adequately ventilated after the treatment, which could have led to the toxic exposure. Investigators found empty cans of insecticides in the household trash, indicating that the entire volume had been used for pest control. The father claimed that they had left the house for two hours after spraying, but did not air out the premises upon returning.
Community Response and Support
The local community has rallied to support the grieving family, organizing funds for the children's funerals, which took place on September 30. The district authorities have taken responsibility for the arrangements, ensuring that the families received assistance not only for the burials but also for memorializing the children with a monument and a fence at the cemetery. The head of the settlement, Oleg Ponomarev, expressed the collective sorrow felt by the residents, stating that the loss of the children was a profound tragedy for the village.
As the investigation continues, there are discussions about possible criminal charges against the father under negligence laws, although no formal case has been established as of now.
