The perpetrator, Viktoria Nasyrova, was found guilty by a New York jury after bringing a poisoned cheesecake to the home of her American lookalike victim in August 2016. After consuming the dessert, the victim fell ill and passed out. Nasyrova then stole the victim's identity and possessions, making it look like a suicide attempt. However, the victim survived and Nasyrova was later apprehended.
The Queens district attorney called Nasyrova a "ruthless and calculating con artist" who was "trying to murder her way to personal profit and gain." This chilling case serves as a reminder of the dangers of identity theft and the lengths that some individuals will go to for personal gain.
The Guardian reported that at the time, the pair resembled one another – both spoke Russian, had dark hair, the same skin complexion and shared other physical traits – the trial heard.
The woman ate the dessert and began to feel sick before passing out. The next day, a friend discovered the victim unconscious. Pills were scattered around her to make it look like she had tried to kill herself, prosecutors said.
When the victim returned home after treatment in hospital, she discovered her passport and employment authorization card were missing, along with jewelry and other valuables.
Law enforcement agents tested the cheesecake and found that it was laced with phenazepam, a highly potent sedative, according to the DA’s office.
Nasyrova, who lives in Brooklyn, was also convicted of assault, unlawful imprisonment and theft.
This chilling story of attempted murder and identity theft serves as a reminder of the darker side of human nature and the risks of trusting others.
