Husband charged after wife’s body found in closet in Bustleton: police

PHILADELPHIA - A 65-year-old man has been charged after police say his wife’s body was found inside a closet in Philadelphia’s Bustleton neighborhood. 

On Sunday, October 13 at 12:33 a.m., officers responded to a missing person report on the 9000 block of Diplomat Place. 

Upon arrival, officers spoke with witnesses who said that they last spoke to their friend, 61-year-old Lola Karabaeva, around 2:30 a.m. the day before.

The Philadelphia Police Department released this image of 61-year-old Lola Karabaeva, after she was reported missing by witnesses who reported that they last spoke to their friend around 2:30 a.m. on October 12, 2024.

On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, detectives returned to the 9000 block of Diplomat Place to continue investigating the missing person case.

During their search of the property, they discovered the body of Lola Karabaeva wrapped in plastic inside a closet. 

Medics arrived on the scene and pronounced her dead at 10:13 a.m.

Police say the cause of death has yet to be determined. 

They took Karabaeva’s husband, 65-year-old Vladimir Lushevskiy, into custody. 

He has been charged with Abuse of a Corpse. 

FOX 29’s Shawnette Williams spoke to neighbors who have home security camera video showing Karabaeva pulling up to her Northeast Philly home just after 2:30 Saturday morning. 

Then you see her going to the door of the house. Neighbors say it was the last time they would see her.

"Sadness, surprised. Don't expect it. Couldn't believe it happened," said Everett Bell.

"I've lived here for nine years so I've never heard any screaming. I've never heard anything bad, but it's just very disturbing to know this is happening," said a neighbor.

"I did not talk too much to Vladimir, that's her husband. He's a little bit crazy," said Mikhail Igdalov, who says he's known the couple for 17 years. 

He says Karabaeva was from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and she had been on vacation in Europe before this happened.

"She was a great person. Really friendly," Igdalov added.

Everett Bell, who lives across the cul-de-sac from the victim, also says she was friendly.

"When I see here we waved at each other say hello, how are you. That's about it. Whoever she see, my wife or I, she ask about the other," Bell explained.

Neighbors say what happened to Karabaeva still doesn't seem real.

"I still don't believe it happened," Bell reflected.

Police have not given details about the days leading up to her being reported missing. However, neighbors say she had just returned from a month-long trip to Europe and that friends were concerned that she had been getting threats from her husband. 

The Homicide Unit is handling the investigation.

Additional charges may be filed depending on the outcome of the investigation.