Case 299: Olga Chardymova
2Digest
This podcast delves into the chilling stories of missing children and the individuals responsible for their disappearance. The episode begins with the case of Naomi, an 18-year-old who vanished from Batlow, New South Wales in 2002. The host, who shared a similar background with Naomi, feels a personal connection to the case and explores the mystery surrounding her disappearance. The podcast then shifts to the case of Olga Chardimova, a 10-year-old girl who disappeared in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia in 2002. The investigation reveals a disturbing pattern of cemetery disturbances and leads to the arrest of Mikhail Sharov, a man with a history of mental illness. The episode then focuses on the arrest of Anatoly Moskvin, a historian with a fascination for cemeteries and burial practices. Officers discover 26 human dolls in his apartment, which turn out to be mummified corpses of young girls. Moskvin reveals his obsession with the dead, explaining that he exhumed and mummified the bodies of over 80 young girls, believing he could one day resurrect them. He treated the corpses as his daughters, dressing them in stolen clothes and creating a strange world of his own. The podcast explores the impact of Moskvin's crimes on Olga Chardimova's family. Her parents, Natalia and Igor, are horrified to learn about the desecration of their daughter's grave and the creation of a doll from her remains. Moskvin stands trial for his crimes and is found not criminally responsible due to paranoid schizophrenia. He is ordered to undergo compulsory medical treatment in a secure psychiatric facility. The podcast concludes with the case of Nia May, an 18-year-old who went missing in 2002. The host shares their journey of researching the case and the challenges faced by Nia's family in seeking answers.
Outlines
Missing Children and Obsession with Death
This episode explores the disturbing cases of missing children and the unsettling actions of individuals obsessed with death, including the mummification of young girls and the desecration of graves. The podcast begins with the case of Naomi, an 18-year-old who vanished from Batlow, New South Wales in 2002. The host, who shared a similar background with Naomi, feels a personal connection to the case and explores the mystery surrounding her disappearance.
The Case of Olga Chardimova
The podcast delves into the case of Olga Chardimova, a 10-year-old girl who disappeared in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia in 2002. The investigation reveals a disturbing pattern of cemetery disturbances and leads to the arrest of Mikhail Sharov, a man with a history of mental illness.
The Arrest of Anatoly Moskvin
The episode then focuses on the arrest of Anatoly Moskvin, a historian with a fascination for cemeteries and burial practices. Officers discover 26 human dolls in his apartment, which turn out to be mummified corpses of young girls. Moskvin reveals his obsession with the dead, explaining that he exhumed and mummified the bodies of over 80 young girls, believing he could one day resurrect them. He treated the corpses as his daughters, dressing them in stolen clothes and creating a strange world of his own.
The Impact on Olga's Family
The podcast explores the impact of Moskvin's crimes on Olga Chardimova's family. Her parents, Natalia and Igor, are horrified to learn about the desecration of their daughter's grave and the creation of a doll from her remains.
Moskvin's Trial and Sentence
Moskvin stands trial for his crimes and is found not criminally responsible due to paranoid schizophrenia. He is ordered to undergo compulsory medical treatment in a secure psychiatric facility.
The Case of Nia May
The podcast concludes with the case of Nia May, an 18-year-old who went missing in 2002. The host shares their journey of researching the case and the challenges faced by Nia's family in seeking answers.
Keywords
Mummification
The process of preserving a body after death by drying it out, often using chemicals or natural methods. Mummification has been practiced in various cultures throughout history, with different techniques and purposes.
Cemetery Disturbances
Acts of vandalism or desecration that occur in cemeteries, often targeting graves, headstones, or the remains of the deceased. These disturbances can be motivated by various factors, including mental illness, revenge, or religious extremism.
Paranoid Schizophrenia
A severe mental illness characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking. Individuals with paranoid schizophrenia often experience paranoia and distrust of others, leading to erratic and potentially harmful behavior.
Necrophilia
A sexual attraction to corpses. It is considered a paraphilia, a sexual interest that is atypical and often associated with distress or impairment.
Forensic Anthropology
The application of anthropological knowledge to legal investigations, particularly in the identification and analysis of human remains. Forensic anthropologists assist in identifying victims, determining cause of death, and reconstructing events.
Missing Persons Cases
Investigations involving individuals who have disappeared without a trace. These cases often pose significant challenges for law enforcement due to the lack of evidence and the difficulty in determining the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
Grief
A complex emotional response to loss, often characterized by sadness, anger, guilt, and longing. Grief can manifest in different ways and can have a profound impact on an individual's physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Mental Illness
A wide range of conditions that affect a person's thinking, feeling, and behavior. Mental illnesses can be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors.
Q&A
What was the initial motivation behind the podcast episode about Naomi's disappearance?
The host was drawn to Naomi's story because they finished high school the same year and shared a similar taste in music. They felt a personal connection to the case and wanted to explore it further.
What was the disturbing discovery made in the attic of Olga Chardimova's apartment block?
Human remains were found wedged between some pipes in the attic, indicating that Olga had been murdered and her body hidden there.
What was the unusual behavior that led to Mikhail Sharov's arrest?
Sharov was caught desecrating the graves of two young girls in neighboring towns. He had a history of mental illness and had previously been detained in a psychiatric hospital.
What was the nature of the human dolls found in Anatoly Moskvin's apartment?
The dolls were actually mummified corpses of young girls, dressed in mismatched clothing and with either blank or makeup-covered masks.
What was Moskvin's explanation for his actions?
Moskvin claimed that he was not sexually attracted to the corpses but saw them as his daughters. He believed he could one day resurrect them and had a strange, paternalistic obsession with them.
What was the outcome of Moskvin's trial?
Moskvin was found not criminally responsible for his actions due to paranoid schizophrenia and was ordered to undergo compulsory medical treatment in a secure psychiatric facility.
How did Olga Chardimova's family react to the discovery of Moskvin's crimes?
Natalia and Igor, Olga's parents, were horrified to learn about the desecration of their daughter's grave and the creation of a doll from her remains. They were deeply disturbed by the thought of their daughter being kept in Moskvin's home for nine years.
What was the motivation behind Moskvin's vandalism of Muslim graves?
Moskvin was angry about a civil claim he had brought against a representative of the local Muslim community and vandalized the graves in retaliation.
What is the current status of Anatoly Moskvin?
Moskvin remains in a secure psychiatric facility, although he has been reclassified as incompetent and could potentially be moved to home care or an open facility. However, he has not yet been released.
Show Notes
*** Content warnings: Child victims ***
In 2002, 10-year-old Russian girl, Olga Chardymova was allowed to walk to her grandmother’s house unaccompanied for the very first time. Her journey barely began before she met a monster.
For years after her death, Olga’s parents were continually tormented by another kind.
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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Holly Boyd
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn
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