BABY S WAS BORN AT 37 WEEKS — BUT WHEN THE CASE REACHED COURT, ONE BASIC DETAIL ABOUT HER FAMILY WAS STILL UNKNOWN

A newborn girl had been in the world for only hours. Then investigators were faced with a question that, even after the case reached court, remained unanswered: Who was Baby S’s father?

Baby S was born at around 37 weeks in Sheffield in the early hours of Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Her mother, Andrea Skopova, 20, later went to hospital. Medical staff recognized that she had recently given birth and alerted police shortly after 5 a.m., triggering a chain of events that would lead to a major investigation.

Officers were sent to a property in the Wincobank area of Sheffield, where the newborn was discovered.

A forensic post-mortem later confirmed that Baby S had died from stab wounds. Prosecutors told the court that the infant had suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings.

But as prosecutors began outlining the case, another startling detail emerged.

THE FATHER WAS UNKNOWN

At Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Luke Hopkinson told the court that Skopova was Baby S’s mother — but the identity of the father was unknown.

That revelation became even more striking because Skopova’s boyfriend, Peter Horvath Jr., 19, is himself one of the four adults charged in connection with Baby S’s death.

The prosecutor said Horvath Jr. is not believed to be the baby’s father.

Horvath Jr. is accused alongside his parents, Peter Horvath Sr., 38, and Nina Horvathova, 37, while Skopova herself is also charged.

All four adults face charges including murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, and perverting the course of justice by allegedly taking steps to conceal what happened.

A 15-year-old girl, who cannot legally be named because of her age, has also been charged with perverting the course of justice.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE BIRTH?

The circumstances surrounding Baby S’s final hours remain at the center of the investigation.

According to evidence outlined in court, the baby was found wrapped in a towel and placed inside a blue bag in an outbuilding at the Holywell Heights property.

She was discovered on top of a washing machine.

Investigators have been working to establish exactly what happened between her birth and the moment police found her.

A potential weapon and CCTV footage have reportedly been recovered as part of the investigation. Two other women, aged 26 and 37, who were initially arrested on suspicion of murder have been released on bail while inquiries continue.

A FAMILY TRAGEDY NOW HEADING FOR TRIAL

The four adult defendants and the teenage defendant were remanded in custody.

At their court appearances, family members were present, with several reportedly becoming emotional. The five defendants did not enter pleas during the brief Crown Court hearing.

A provisional trial date has now been set for April 12, 2027, with proceedings expected to last approximately six to seven weeks.

The defendants are due back in court on October 2, 2026.

South Yorkshire Police have urged the public not to speculate or share information that could interfere with the legal process as detectives continue investigating.

And despite the shocking details already presented in court, some of the biggest questions remain unanswered.

Why was Baby S’s father unknown?

What happened in the hours after she was born?

And most importantly, what led to the death of a baby who had only just entered the world?

Those questions may become central as the case moves toward trial.

All five defendants are accused, not convicted, and each is entitled to a fair trial.