New York – The death of 89-year-old Holocaust survivor Nina Kravtsov at a Brooklyn nursing home has shocked the community. Kravtsov, a great-grandmother and Ukraine-born survivor of the Holocaust, was allegedly killed by her 95-year-old roommate, Galina Smirnova, after just two days of sharing a room at Seagate Nursing Home.
Authorities report that Kravtsov was found with severe head injuries in her room. She was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to blunt force trauma. Police allege that the murder weapon was a leg rest from Smirnova’s wheelchair, found discarded outside the facility. A staff member reportedly discovered Smirnova washing blood from herself and the room.
“This is like something out of a Stephen King horror story,” said Randy Zelin, attorney for Kravtsov’s family, describing the shocking circumstances. The incident reportedly occurred within a one-hour window while Kravtsov was asleep.
Dementia is expected to play a role in the case, as Smirnova may claim she did not understand her actions. However, Zelin notes that some behaviors, such as discarding the weapon and washing up, suggest possible awareness.
Smirnova was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court and is being held without bail. Kravtsov’s family, through Zelin’s office, is also exploring potential civil action against Seagate Nursing Home, questioning whether better protocols or staffing could have prevented the tragedy.
The case has sparked outrage and sorrow, as the family and community grapple with the loss of a woman who survived one of history’s darkest chapters, only to face a violent death in her final years.
