Warning: This article discusses domestic violence and child abuse, which some readers may find distressing.
Police in California have reported a ‘gruesome’ scene after arresting a 28-year-old man in relation to the death of his son.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office detailed the incident in a Facebook press release, which occurred in North Sacramento County at about 4:15 a.m. on Saturday, December 21.
Officers responded to reports of a ‘family disturbance’ and spoke with a woman outside a home on Versailles Way. She informed them that her husband, Andrey Demskiy, had assaulted both her and her mother.
When police attempted to contact Demskiy, he did not answer the door. Deputies soon discovered that a one-year-old boy was inside with Demskiy and may have been harmed after reportedly being ‘thrown’ by his father.
Concerned for the child’s safety, officers forced entry into the residence and tried to detain Demskiy, who was noted as being ‘uncooperative’ and ‘physically resistive’.
Once Demskiy was in custody, officers discovered what the Sheriff’s Office called a ‘gruesome discovery’ inside the home.
They found a ‘severed child’s head’ in the room where Demskiy was apprehended. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office later identified the deceased as Micha Demskiy.
This discovery led to the involvement of Crime Scene Investigators and Sheriff’s Child Abuse Bureau Detectives, who handle murder investigations involving children.
Upon further investigation, detectives alleged that Demskiy had engaged in a domestic violence incident with his wife and mother-in-law, leading to the initial police call.
After the wife and her mother exited the home, Demskiy is accused of using a knife to behead and murder his son.
Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, called the alleged beheading ‘one of the most horrific things’ he’s encountered.
He told KCRA that authorities were ‘visibly shaken’ by the event.
“For this family who has got to pick up the pieces and go on — I mean, their world is shattered,” he said.
A GoFundMe page has been created for the family, describing Micha as ‘a kind and joyful soul’.
“His kind heart and beautiful smile warmed the hearts of everyone he came in contact with. He loved his family and especially his mama,” the page reads.
The mother-in-law was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries after police arrived at the scene.
Demskiy was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on charges of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, and murder.
The 28-year-old is not eligible for bail and is scheduled to appear in court on December 24.
If these topics concern you or if you wish to discuss child welfare confidentially, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)) is available 24/7 throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that help is available. You can contact the national domestic violence helpline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) around the clock. You can also find a list of local resources here.