95-Year-Old Woman Charged with Murder of Holocaust Survivor in Brooklyn Nursing Home

A 95-year-old woman suffering from dementia has been charged with murder following the death of an elderly Holocaust survivor in a Brooklyn nursing home. Prosecutors unveiled disturbing details of the incident during court proceedings on Wednesday.

Galina Smilnova appeared frail and disoriented in a wheelchair as she faced charges of murder and weapons offenses. The court has ordered her to remain at the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward while the shocking circumstances surrounding the crime were discussed, particularly the scene at the Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Coney Island.

Smilnova allegedly killed 89-year-old Nina Kraktsov, using a wheelchair pedal on Sunday night.

According to Brooklyn District Attorney Ali Rottenberg, a nursing assistant found Kraktsov in bed with serious injuries, and blood was reported throughout the room. The assistant noted that Smilnova was in the bathroom at the time, washing her hands, with blood visible on her gown and legs. A wheelchair with missing foot pedals was also found, one pedal on the floor and another discarded outside the window, both stained with blood.

Prosecutors stated that Smilnova had arrived at the facility on Friday and had been assigned to share a room with Kraktsov.

Nurses indicated that Kraktsov had been asleep during a routine check at 8:55 PM on Sunday. However, upon returning an hour later, they discovered an alarming scene with blood everywhere and Kraktsov unable to move due to a severe head injury.

Kraktsov, who had lost her entire family during the Holocaust, was immediately taken to NYU Langone Brooklyn Hospital and succumbed to her injuries early Monday morning.

Smilnova’s lawyer, Erin Darcy, expressed some hesitation in requesting bail for her client, indicating they hope to make a more robust argument in the next court hearing scheduled for Friday.

Meanwhile, prosecutors contended that Smilnova should be held without bail. The judge declined to order a psychiatric evaluation for Smilnova, stating that such a request was premature.

Kraktsov’s daughter, Lucy Fromm, recounted her mother’s tragic past, having lost her family during the Holocaust. Kraktsov had moved to the United States after working as a nurse in Ukraine. Fromm described her mother as a dedicated and loving individual, stating, “She sacrificed a lot… She was a very devoted mother.” Fromm underscored the sacrifices her mother made to provide her with a good education and a better life.