A judge ruled on Wednesday that a 65-year-old man, charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, and other offenses following the discovery of his wife’s remains in a closet in their Northeast Philadelphia home last week, will remain in a New Jersey jail until at least December.
Vladimir Lushevskiy is facing firearms charges in New Jersey after being apprehended in Westhampton Township, Burlington County, while exiting a motel room and allegedly carrying a loaded revolver at the time.
Judge Craig Ambrose stated that keeping Lushevskiy in custody went against the court’s recommendation to release him on the condition of monthly reporting on those weapons charges.
However, Ambrose stated that Lushevskiy strayed from that advice owing to the seriousness of the allegations against him in Pennsylvania and the fact that he fled to New Jersey with a loaded handgun.
Ambrose declared that, in the event of Lushevskiy’s release, “no amount of monetary bail, non-monetary conditions, or combination of monetary bail and conditions would reasonably assure” his appearance in court.
The case against Vladimir Lushevskiy
Luschevskiy was detained after Philadelphia police identified him as a suspect in the death of his wife, 61-year-old Lola Karabaeva, whose body was discovered in a closet at the home they shared on the 9000 block of Diplomat Place in the Bustleton neighborhood.
On October 12, 2024, Karabaeva’s last sighting led to an initial missing report.
On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, detectives investigating the missing person case paid a visit to the couple’s residence. During their search of the property, they discovered Karabaeva’s body wrapped in plastic in a cupboard.
Authorities declared her dead on the scene at 10:13 a.m.
According to police, investigators suspect Lushevskiy murdered his wife shortly after she arrived at the couple’s home on Saturday, October 12, 2024.
Surveillance footage from 2:38 a.m. that day shows the woman struggle to unlock the front door for several minutes before the film ends.
Authorities reported that they last saw her alive.
Later that morning, surveillance cameras caught a man, identified by neighbors as Lushevskiy, outside the house. Video captures him pushing her automobile.
The District Attorney’s Office announced the escalation of charges to homicide, strangling, tampering with evidence, and obstruction on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
Neighbors told NBC10’s Brian Sheehan during a memorial service following the discovery of Karabaeva’s body in the home that October 12 held special meaning for the couple.
Neighbors stated it was the birthday of their son, who died several years ago.
When asked if this detail would have any bearing on the case, police officials indicated Wednesday that they could not disclose any new information about the inquiry.
Lushevskiy remains in jail in New Jersey. The court has scheduled his next appearance for a pre-extradition hearing on December 14, 2024.
The Pennsylvania case has no named attorney.
