Pianist Vadym Kholodenko’s family murdered in Texas triple homicide
Two children were killed and their mother stabbed Thursday in a crime involving the family of an internationally known pianist in North Texas, Benbrook police said.
The children’s father is pianist Vadym Kholodenko. Police said Friday morning he is not a suspect in the case and his estranged wife will be held for a mental health evaluation once she recovers from her wounds.
After responding to a 911 call, officers discovered the woman, identified by Sofia Tsygankova, 31, stabbed but still alive.
Her two daughters, identified by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner as 5-year-old Nika Kholodenko and 1-year-old Michela Kholodenko, were both found dead.
According to the medical examiner, the children were found in bed with no obvious signs of injury.
“The manner of death has not been determined at this time, but they were not stabbed,” Benbrook Police Cmdr. David Babcock said. “Until we speak to the mother, it’s too early in this investigation to establish any suspects or motives at this point.”
Tsygankova was rushed to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where she underwent surgery.
NBC 5 reports that Kholodenko filed for divorce from Tsygankova in November. Kholodenko’s attorney wrote that the couple married in 2010 and stopped living together as a couple last August. Tsygankova filed a counter-suit, records show, asking for attorney fees.
In 2013, Kholodenko became the first winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, which was held following the death of acclaimed American pianist Harvey Lavan “Van” Cliburn Jr.
Kholodenko was scheduled to perform three shows with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra this weekend.
A statement issued late Thursday by the symphony said, “We are currently formulating our plan for this weekend’s concerts in light of the developing situation and plan to release a statement in the morning.”