Pianist’s Estranged Wife Indicted In Daughters’ Deaths

The estranged wife of an internationally known pianist has been indicted in Texas on capital murder charges in deaths of their two young daughters.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the indictments accuse Sofya Tsygankova of suffocating 1-year-old Michaela Kholodenko and 5-year-old Nika Kholodenko with pillows March 17 at her home in suburban Benbrook.

The 32-year-old estranged wife of pianist Vadym Kholodenko pleaded not guilty to the charges and is jailed with bond set at $2 million. Her attorney has declined comment on the specific allegations.

Photo: Richard W. Rodriguezl/Star-Telegram via AP

With his wife Sofya Tsygankova at the 2014 Cliburn Gala at Ridglea Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Ukrainian-born winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition discovered his daughters’ bodies when he arrived at the home the girls shared with their mother to take them to school. Arrest affidavits say the girls were found on beds.

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