A NEWBORN BABY’S DEATH PUT FOUR MEMBERS OF ONE FAMILY IN THE DOCK — AND THEIR FAMILY CONNECTION IS NOW AT THE CENTER OF THE CASE

A newborn baby girl was just days old when her short life ended in Sheffield.

Now, four adults connected through the same family are facing trial over her death — while prosecutors allege that steps were also taken afterward to conceal what happened.

The baby, known in court only as Baby S, was born in the early hours of August 30, 2026, at an address in Sheffield.

Within hours, police were alerted after medical staff became concerned about the infant’s safety.

What followed has become one of the most disturbing cases currently before the courts in South Yorkshire.

FOUR ADULTS — ONE FAMILY CONNECTION

The four adults charged are:

• Andrea Skopova, 20, the baby’s mother
• Peter Horvath Jr, 19
• Peter Horvath Sr, 38
• Nina Horvathova, 37

All four are Slovakian nationals.

Skopova is the girlfriend of Peter Horvath Jr, who is the son of Peter Horvath Sr and Nina Horvathova.

That means the three Horvath defendants are members of the same family, while Skopova is connected to them through her relationship with Horvath Jr.

Prosecutors told the court that Horvath Jr is not believed to be Baby S’s father, and the baby’s biological father remains unknown.

THE DISCOVERY IN THE OUTBUILDING

Police were called to the Wincobank area of Sheffield on the morning of August 30 following concerns about the safety of an infant.

The baby’s body was later found inside an outbuilding at a property on Holywell Heights.

Prosecutors said she had been wrapped in a towel and placed inside a blue bag before being left on top of a washing machine.

A postmortem examination found that Baby S died from stab wounds.

At an earlier court hearing, prosecutor Luke Hopkinson said the newborn had suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings, involving injuries to her face and torso, including both the front and back of her body.

The court was also told that medical evidence indicated the baby was alive when the injuries were inflicted.

THE CHARGES GO BEYOND MURDER

All four adults have been charged with murder.

They are also accused of causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice by allegedly taking steps to conceal what had happened.

A potential weapon has been recovered and is being examined by investigators, while CCTV footage has also been obtained as part of the investigation.

The exact alleged role of each defendant is a matter for the prosecution and, ultimately, the court.

A FIFTH DEFENDANT

The case also involves a 15-year-old girl, who cannot be legally named because of her age.

She faces a separate charge of perverting the course of justice.

She was remanded into youth custody after appearing in court.

Two other women, aged 26 and 37, were previously arrested on suspicion of murder but remain on bail while police continue their investigation.

EMOTIONAL COURT APPEARANCE

The first court hearings were highly emotional.

At Sheffield Crown Court, the defendants appeared in the dock while members of their family watched from the public gallery.

Reports said 26 family members were present during the hearing.

Skopova and the 15-year-old girl were seen crying, while others in the gallery were also visibly distressed.

The hearing was conducted with the assistance of Slovak interpreters.

All five defendants were remanded in custody.

TRIAL SET FOR 2027

Judge Sarah Wright has set a provisional trial date of April 12, 2027.

The trial is expected to last between six and seven weeks.

The next hearing is scheduled for October 2, 2026.

South Yorkshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward described the investigation as complex and urged the public not to speculate or share information online that could interfere with the legal process.

The Crown Prosecution Service has also emphasized that the proceedings are active and that every defendant has the right to a fair trial.

For now, one question remains at the heart of the case:

How did a newborn baby come to be at the center of an investigation involving her own mother, her mother’s boyfriend and his parents?

That question will now be examined in court.

All four adults are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.