Benbrook mother won't face death penalty for death of daughters

Image 1 of 2

The mother accused of killing her two daughters in March will not face the death penalty if convicted of the murders, court records reveal.

The girls were found by their father, Van Cliburn competition winner Vadym Kholodenko, in their home in the Fort Worth suburb of Benbrook. He returned to the home to pick up his daughters and found the girls dead, police said.

Court records show prosecutors agreed to waive the death penalty for Sofya Tsygankova. The documents were filed this week in Tarrant County.

Kholodenko found his wife in an "extreme state of distress." According to an arrest warrant affidavit, she was found kneeling on the floor in a bloody nightgown “rocking back and forth.”

An affidavit said Tsygankova was found bloodied and with wounds to her wrist and chest. At one point she asked investigators: "Did I do anything bad to my kids?"

Investigators believe Tsygankova suffocated her 1-year-old and 5-year-old to death and tried to commit suicide by stabbing herself.

Police say Tsygankova sought mental treatment the day before the girls were found dead.

A Tarrant County grand jury indicted the mother on two counts of capital murder back in June.

Tsygankova, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charges. She remains in the Tarrant County jail with bail set at $2 million.