Wife found hidden in home after European trip turns tragic

The body of a 61-year-old woman who vanished after returning from Europe was discovered wrapped in plastic inside a closet in her Philadelphia home, authorities said Thursday, Oct. 17. Her husband has been arrested in connection with the case.

Lola Karabaeva was last seen Oct. 12 at her residence, according to a missing persons report issued by the Philadelphia Police Department. Police found her body Wednesday, Oct. 16, and arrested Vladimir Lushevskiy, 65, on a charge of abuse of a corpse.

The investigation began Sunday, Oct. 13, when police received a missing person report. Detectives searching the house Wednesday found Karabaeva's body concealed in plastic within a closet.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, police discovered the body on their third search of the home. After observing a dark stain near a closet, officers removed a wooden board at the back, revealing Karabaeva's remains in a sealed trash bag.

Neighbors reported Karabaeva disappeared shortly after returning from an extended European trip. Mikhail Igdalov, a local resident, told ABC affiliate WPVI-TV, "She has been in Europe two weeks, maybe three weeks, I don't know. She (came) in here. I saw just her car."

Frank Vanore, Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, said authorities are investigating whether the killing may have stemmed from an argument over the couple's son's death 20 years ago. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that in 2004, the couple's 19-year-old son vanished during a California vacation. His remains were found six years later.

A GoFundMe set up for Karabaeva's funeral expenses describes her as a "beautiful, kind and amazing woman" who was "always ready to help others in spite of her personal tragedy with the loss of her son." The page states that Karabaeva, reportedly from Uzbekistan, had no other family in the United States.

While Karabaeva's cause of death remains undetermined, police are investigating the case as a homicide. Lushevskiy currently faces no additional charges, but authorities indicate more may be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.