The cousin of a 91-year-old homicide victim is being charged with her murder in what police said on Monday was a staged burglary.
John Malko, 72, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Nadia Evanowicz Schaible of Parkville. Members of the police and fire department found the woman on the basement floor of her residence on the 8200 block of Evergreen Drive on July 12 after receiving a cardiac arrest call. Schaible was declared dead at the scene.
Her death was the result of multiple blunt force injuries, police said following an autopsy.
Police investigation revealed Malko, a Salt Lake City, Utah resident, staged a burglary of the home, which included a broken kitchen door and scattered jewelry in Schaible's bedroom.
He told police he was visiting his cousin, had left the residence and returned to find the damage. Malko placed the original call to police.
The case remains under investigation, police said, and a motive is not known.