Documents: Benbrook mom stabbed and drugged self, smothered two young daughters
New documents indicate a Benbrook mother smothered her two young children before repeatedly stabbing herself and potentially attempting a drug overdose.
Arrest warrants for Sofya Tsygankova, 31, were released by the Benbrook police department on Tuesday. The mother is accused of murdering her 1-year-old and 5-year-old daughters last Thursday.
Police said when they arrived at the home they found Tsygankova in the master bedroom rocking back and forth on the ground and making undistinguishable noises. Police saw blood on both of her arms and a puncture wound in her chest.
Tsygankova’s estranged husband, world-renowned Ukranian pianist Vadym Kholodenko, discovered the crime scene and called 911.
Tsygankova told police two days after the incident that “I think I committed suicide” and she “didn’t want to live.” She admitted to stabbing herself repeatedly and taking a large amount of pills. Officers also found empty pill bottles inside the home, it what appeared to be an attempted drug overdose.
Investigators later discovered that Tsygankova had visited a mental health facility the night before the children were found murdered. She had been given a prescription for a drug used to treat bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia.
The 1-year-old was found dead on the bed in the master bedroom and the 5-year-old was found dead in a second bedroom. The one-year-old was found with a pillow over her face.
“The pillow had a slight indention on top consistent with the size of a small head,” the warrant states.
The five-year-old had a pillow found next to her. Both pillows had “biological fluid” on them.
Authorities also found bloody linens inside a car in the garage that appeared to be from the master bedroom and a suitcase used to brace a rag stuffed into the tailpipe. Tsygankova said she thought she might have put her two daughters in the car at some point late Wednesday, but couldn’t fully remember the details.
A full autopsy is being conducted to determine the official cause of death of the two children.
Tsygankova was moved from a medical facility to Tarrant County Jail on Tuesday. She’s being held on a $2 million bond.