Sliven, Bulgaria — A 46-year-old man has been formally charged with the murder of his mother following a gruesome knife attack in Sliven, the Bulgarian city often referred to as the City of Blue Stones.
The Sliven District Prosecutor’s Office announced the charges on Friday, confirming that the woman, aged 68, had been killed on July 11 after sustaining nearly 20 stab wounds. The suspect, identified only by his initials G.I., reportedly turned himself in to local police shortly after the attack.
He remains in custody and is expected to be detained for up to 72 hours as prosecutors prepare to file a request with the court for a more permanent measure—referred to under Bulgarian law as “detention under probation.”
Senior Commissioner Dimitar Velichkov, head of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Sliven, said the mother and son had only recently moved to the city. Originally from another region of Bulgaria, the two had taken up residence in an apartment in Sliven, reportedly with the aim of seeking employment.
Authorities have not yet determined the motive behind the killing, which has left local residents shaken. Commissioner Velichkov confirmed that police had not received any prior complaints or reports of domestic violence between the man and his mother.
“The incident came as a complete surprise to both the local authorities and the community,” Velichkov said during a press briefing. “There were no prior warning signs that could have anticipated such a brutal act.”
An autopsy confirmed that the woman had suffered multiple stab wounds, consistent with the attack being carried out with a knife. Forensic teams and criminal investigators were dispatched to the apartment, and the weapon believed to have been used in the murder has been recovered.
Neighbors in the apartment complex expressed shock, describing the family as quiet and largely keeping to themselves. “They had just moved in a few months ago. No one really knew them, but this is horrifying,” said one resident, who asked not to be named.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine the relationship between the suspect and the victim, as well as any potential psychological factors that may have contributed to the crime.
If convicted, G.I. could face a lengthy prison sentence under Bulgarian law, which considers premeditated murder an especially serious offense.
The Sliven District Court is expected to hear the detention request in the coming days. Meanwhile, the city remains gripped by the tragic and violent nature of the crime, as investigators work to determine what led to the fatal confrontation.