Additional Coverage:
- A 95-year-old woman is accused of beating her nursing home roommate, a Holocaust survivor, to death (nbcnews.com)
Brooklyn, NY – A 95-year-old nursing home resident has been charged with the murder of her 89-year-old roommate, a Holocaust survivor. Galina Smirnova allegedly beat Nina Kravtsov to death at the Seagate Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Coney Island.
According to the criminal complaint, staff checked on the two women in their shared room at 8:55 p.m. Sunday, observing Kravtsov asleep in bed.
Just an hour later, a witness discovered Kravtsov’s bloodied body and saw Smirnova washing blood off herself in the bathroom. A bloody, detached wheelchair foot pedal was found near Kravtsov’s body.
Kravtsov was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries early Monday morning.
Kravtsov’s story is one of remarkable resilience. She survived the Holocaust after narrowly escaping a concentration camp.
She worked as a nurse, raised a daughter as a single mother, and immigrated to the United States in 1979, settling in Brighton Beach. Five years ago, a stroke led to her residency at Seagate.
An attorney for Kravtsov’s family expressed outrage, stating, “You have this woman who has survived the Holocaust and has beaten the odds. She is supposed to be cared for and protected… and instead she ends up with her head and face bashed in to the point that she was unrecognizable.” He believes Smirnova, a dementia patient, had only been at the facility for 48 hours and was placed with Kravtsov due to their shared Russian language.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows no one else entering or leaving the room during the time of the incident. The family is demanding answers from Seagate, claiming they haven’t received an apology or adequate information beyond an initial report.
Smirnova pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon at her arraignment Wednesday and is being held without bail. She is due back in court next Tuesday. Seagate Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has not yet issued a public statement.