Ex-Wheaton man: Killing wife 'my only way out,' documents say
Just days before he was to appear in court to answer charges of violating a protection order taken out by his wife, Yeveginy Savenok told police he figured his wife was going to take his children and killing her was "probably like my only way out."
Waiving his right to remain silent, the 30-year-old 2008 Wheaton College graduate told police of a crumbling marriage and that he had thought about killing his wife, Lyubov, as he made his way back from Wheaton to their home in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
During their six-year marriage, Savenok built up a history of abuse against Lyubov, 23, both in Minnesota and Wheaton, where Savenok was a college wrestling star and 2004 graduate of Wheaton Warrenville South High School.
Savenok was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder, one for Lyubov and one for her unborn child, said Chuck Laszewski, Hennepin County Attorney's spokesman.
According to charging documents filed by prosecutors, the following occurred Saturday morning:
• Lyubov's 14-year-old sister called police at 10:37 a.m., saying she believed Savenok had a knife and was killing Lyubov. He had placed their children, ages 2 and 4, in his SUV before re-entering the house.
• Savenok grabbed the younger sister, squeezed her tightly, but then grabbed a knife and ran toward Lyubov, who was in an adjoining room.
• He put Lyubov in a headlock from behind and took her to the floor, placing a knife to her throat. The sister then grabbed Lyubov's phone and ran outside.
• A short time later, the sister saw Savenok leave with the children, locking the doors to the house behind him. She ran to the back of the home and saw, through the patio door, Lyubov lying on the floor with a large kitchen knife protruding from her chest.
First responders treated Lyubov for multiple puncture wounds to her chest, shoulder and neck before taking her to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she died. An emergency Caesarean section was performed in an attempt to save the life of her unborn child, who survived for several minutes after birth, authorities said.
Lyubov died of massive blood loss due to roughly a dozen stab wounds, an autopsy showed. Doctors concluded that the baby, a boy, was born too premature to survive.
At roughly 1 p.m., Savenok arrived at United Hospital in St. Paul, along with the two children. Prosecutors say he told security guards at the hospital that he had just killed his wife.
Later, he told investigators of marital problems but said Lyubov had driven him to contemplate the killing. It was during the six-hour drive to Eden Prairie that he thought about using a knife to commit the crime, documents said.
Domestic abuse allegations against Savenok were made both in Wheaton and Minnesota, with an order of protection taken out by Lyubov in 2014.
Savenok was scheduled to appear before a Hennepin County judge Tuesday to answer to charges stemming from four complaints in one month, August 2014, made by Lyubov. They included:
• Aug. 1. She wrote: "Hit me during sex. I yelled, pushed him off and called the police. He broke a window out of rage."
• Aug. 10. She said he "wrestled and hit me repeatedly (45 min), left bruises and bloody nose."
• Aug. 25. Savenok "pulled me up by the hair," she wrote.
• Aug. 27. She wrote, "The only way this will end is me in the hospital or him in jail."
Court records also show Lyubov filed for divorce in DuPage County on Nov. 5, 2014, but voluntarily rescinded the filing on April 14, 2015.
In a statement released Tuesday, Lyubov's brother Aleks Katane said: "It's hard for us to once again hear the details of Lyuba's senseless murder. Her family, friends and loved ones feel deep sadness, loss and anger. It has been especially difficult to learn that her son survived for a small time after the doctors tried to save him. Lyuba was going to name him Ellis.
"We are assured knowing that we live in a country where justice will be served and we are grateful that the children are both safe and cared for by Lyuba's parents. As the report states my sister Alisa (14) escaped the house as Lyuba was murdered so we are relieved to know that she is also safe. Currently the entire family is focused on celebrating Lyuba's life at her funeral and also caring for her two remaining children.
"Lyuba was in a very difficult marriage and no stone will be left unturned as we look for answers. However at this time let's focus on celebrating her life, passions and coming together to set her children up for success."
The family has set up an account, www.gofundme.com/lyubasavenok, to cover funeral expenses and help with care of the children.
If convicted, Savenok faces natural life in prison without parole.