New details emerge in Jugla murder case as neighbors describe blood traces and a silent night

New details have surfaced about the murder of a woman last week in the Jugla neighborhood of Riga, on Salamandras Street. A passerby discovered the woman's body in the morning near an eight-story apartment building. Residents say there had been no earlier sign that anything tragic was unfolding inside the building.

According to neighbors, the victim lived in the building's first stairwell entrance, yet no one heard any unusual noise during the night. Residents attribute this to the building's solid construction, saying sound barely travels through the walls.

Traces point to violence

While an initial assumption suggested a natural death, State Police representative Vyacheslav Gudovskis confirmed the woman had been killed. When officers checked the stairwell, they found blood traces leading toward the elevator and the woman's apartment. Witnesses say the victim was found without underwear, dressed only in underclothes, with a bruised, discolored face.

Upon entering the apartment, police found a man of pre-retirement age. According to information available to investigators, the suspect is believed to be a close relative of the victim — her nephew, who lived with her. Neighbors say the man is around 60 years old and had left the area sometime after the incident.

Possible motive and penalty

Investigators believe the crime may have occurred at night. Blood traces found in the stairwell and elevator, along with the fact that the body was later found in a publicly accessible spot, suggest an attempt to conceal the crime. Authorities do not rule out that the suspect may have been under the influence of alcohol. Police name a domestic conflict as one possible motive, and are also examining a potential connection to inheritance matters.

If found guilty, the man faces life imprisonment or a prison term of five to 20 years, along with up to three years of probationary supervision. The final sentence will depend on the circumstances established during the investigation.