Police: Ushrenko murder almost perfect crime
Damian Kerlik, suspected of slaying six family members, reenacts gruesome event for investigators. Police say his only mistake was attempt to dispose of evidence by fire
Thursday night saw Police Central Unit Commander Avi Neuman and Chief Superintendent Yoav Kotler, arrive at the quiet Rishon Lezion neighborhood in a larger police van, ahead of several other police vehicles.
Police investigators met a small crowd which gathered in the city's Nordau Street despite the police tape sealing it off, curious to see "the monster who butchered six people."
Kerlik, hand ands feet in cuffs, stepped out of the van and began walking investigators through the events which took place 10 days prior.
The task force assigned to the case has been working tirelessly, but according to Alon, one of the detectives assigned to the case, "seeing (Kerlik) in handcuffs was worth all those sleepless nights."
The police reenactment began with Kerlik retracing the way he got into the Ushrenko home. The answer – his wife, Natalia, worked at the family restaurant and was able to duplicate the keys.
Kerlik arriving at the scene (Photo: Avi Mualem)
Once inside, he told investigators, he found the grandmother, Ludmila, with grandchildren Revital, 3, and Netanel, four months.
Ludmila was the first to be killed. He then sent a text message from Ludmila's phone to her daughter-in-law Tatiana, asking her to come home early as the little girl was sick. Once she arrived, he killed her as well.
Next, Kerlik went after Eduard Ushrenko, the grandfather, who police believe was the primary target. The elder Ushrenko was the one to fire Kerlik from his job as headwaiter in the family restaurant, and Kerlik also believed he was having an affair with Natalia. Kerlik slit his throat as soon as he came home.
According to the reenactment, it was at this point that both children woke up. Kerlik turned his homicidal rage at the toddler and her baby brother, stabbing both dozens of times in their beds.
Unaware of the tragedy, Demetri Ushrenko attempted to reach his wife around 5.30 am. His text message was answered by Kerlik, who coolly asked "don't be too late tonight."
Demetri came home shortly after. Kerlik surprised him at the door and the two struggled for the knife, but Kerlik got the upper hand, stabbing his sixth victim to death.
Kerlik, in what investigators described as one of the more chilling moments of the reenactment, proceeded to shower, change into fresh clothes he took from Demetri's closet and eat before leaving the bloodbath behind.
Just before exiting the scene he set the home on fire in an attempt to conceal the evidence, closing the windows in order to minimize smoke detection by neighbors.
According to the police – that was his one and only error: The oxygen-starved fire faltered, leaving plenty of evidence. Otherwise, said a police source, "it would have been the perfect crime."
