Podolsk tragedy prompts renewed focus on threats to students and police response

The parents of a 16 year old girl who was killed in Podolsk have repeatedly told authorities that she faced threats and harassment from someone she previously dated. The father spoke to the Telegram channel Shot to share these details and to describe the ongoing worry that preceded the tragedy. The case began to unfold on March 11 when a ninth grade student was found murdered in her own home. An 18 year old local resident, Mikhail Baranov, was later taken into custody on suspicion of involvement in the crime. According to the girl’s father, the ex boyfriend had sent threatening messages to his target through multiple social media accounts, revealing a menacing intent to harm. He allegedly stated that he would come with friends and hurt the father and his mother using a brick. The accused had started by communicating from his own account and then attacked from additional profiles, making it difficult to track his actions online. The family reported the harassment to the police, but the interventions appeared limited to issuing preventive warnings, leaving the situation unresolved in the eyes of the girl’s relatives. Baranov’s mother was aware of her son’s troubling behavior, yet could not intervene effectively, as described by the murdered girl’s father. On the day of the incident, the girl reportedly did not answer calls, and when her mother later checked in with her friends, no one answered the home intercom. The family members eventually entered the apartment through an open balcony and found a friend lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen, prompting them to call emergency services and request help. The ambulance arrived at the scene after a lengthy delay of about 50 minutes, according to the accounts given by the girl’s mother. Additional local reporting notes that the scene was captured in a video published by a former local outlet, which documented the apartment in which the crime took place and provided context for the ongoing investigation. The broader response has focused on understanding the timeline of events, evaluating the effectiveness of protective measures, and ensuring that vulnerable students are supported by school officials and law enforcement as investigators pursue the motive and identify any additional threats connected to this case.