A student doctor and her husband have been accused of dismembering their eight-month-old daughter following a domestic dispute.
The baby died when Yakov Maiboroda, 33, aimed a kick at his wife Anastasia, 23, but struck the girl instead, according to Russian police sources.
It is alleged that the infant was instantly killed in the couple's flat in the city of Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia.
Maiboroda and his wife allegedly jointly dismembered the child using knives and an electric meat grinder, law enforcement said.
They then put the remains of the girl into 13 plastic bags, and the medic allegedly called the police to say the child had been kidnapped.
The Russian Investigative Committee said: "After ascertaining that the child did not show any signs of life, the couple took steps to hide the body.
"Afterwards, in order to create the appearance of not being involved in a crime, the 23-year-old mother of the dead girl reported to the law enforcement authorities about her alleged abduction by unknown perpetrators."
But when state investigators arrived at their flat, they detained the pair on suspicion of murder.
Officers were horrified at the sight as they removed the electric meat grinder, knives with traces of blood, and 13 bags of human remains, reported Baza media.
"The remains of the child's body and other evidence proving their involvement in a particularly serious crime were found at their place of residence," said the committee's statement.
Neighbours said there were "constant screams" from the flat since the couple moved in six months ago.
There have also been reports claiming that social services had attended the property "several times".
"On the day of the murder, he was more violent than usual, then the noise and children's cries stopped abruptly," reported Mash media.
"Neighbours sensed something was wrong, but they could not imagine that at that time behind the wall the parents were trying to get rid of the body of their murdered daughter."
The report said: "Almost every day other residents listened to the abuse of the spouses and the crying of a small child.
"During these months, they were visited several times by juvenile inspectors."
Criminal cases have been launched against the husband, a manager in a company producing honey, and his trainee paediatrician wife.
The couple were remanded in custody by a judge pending further investigations until June 28.
"Investigative measures are currently being taken in the criminal case in order to establish all the circumstances of the crime," said the committee.
Russia has high rates of domestic murder by international standards, and there are signs this has worsened during the war against Ukraine unleashed by Vladimir Putin.
