SHE WAS ONCE KNOWN ONLY AS “BABY S” — NOW HER NAME IS MARIA SKOPOVA, AS HER STORY EMERGES FROM THE SHADOW OF A HEARTBREAKING SHEFFIELD CASE

For weeks, the newborn at the centre of a major Sheffield investigation was identified in court only as “Baby S.” Now, an inquest has formally revealed her name — Maria Skopova — as four adults remain in custody awaiting trial.

For weeks, she was known only by a single letter.

Baby S.

That was how the newborn girl was referred to during the early stages of the criminal investigation surrounding her death in Sheffield.

Now, she has a name.

Her name was Maria Skopova.

Maria was born on August 30, 2026, at a property in Holywell Heights, in the Wincobank area of Sheffield.

She died on the very same day.

Her name was formally confirmed when an inquest into her death opened at Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre, bringing a deeply personal detail into a case that has so far been dominated by court proceedings and criminal allegations.

A BABY WHO DID NOT GET THE CHANCE TO GROW UP

Maria’s life lasted only a matter of hours.

According to information previously heard by the court, her mother, Andrea Skopova, was 20 when Maria was born.

The court heard that Skopova had given birth at around 37 weeks before later attending hospital.

Medical staff became concerned about the whereabouts and safety of the newborn and contacted police.

Officers went to an address in Holywell Heights, where Maria was eventually found.

Emergency services attended, but paramedics were unable to save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A forensic post-mortem examination later established that Maria died from stab wounds, according to South Yorkshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

THE INQUEST HEARD NEW DETAILS

When the inquest opened, the court heard that Maria had suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbing injuries.

Those details had previously been heard in the criminal proceedings and were reported again as the inquest into her death began.

The coroner, Senior Coroner Tanyka Rawden, said the inquest would have to be paused because criminal proceedings relating to Maria’s death are still active.

It has been adjourned until March 25, 2027.

At that stage, the coroner is expected to review the evidence gathered and decide how the inquest should proceed.

The decision reflects the difficulty of examining Maria’s death through an inquest while a separate criminal case is still moving through the courts.

FOUR ADULTS ARE ACCUSED

Four adults are currently in custody and facing charges over Maria’s death.

They are:

• Andrea Skopova, 20
• Peter Horvath Jr, 19
• Peter Horvath Sr, 38
• Nina Horvathova, 37

All four have been charged with murder, as well as causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice.

The latter allegation relates to claims concerning steps taken to conceal what happened, including the alleged cleaning of the scene.

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

The four adults appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on October 2.

No pleas were entered.

They were remanded in custody, and another hearing has been scheduled for December 14, 2026.

THE TRIAL IS SET FOR APRIL 2027

Maria’s case is now expected to return to court for a major trial.

The trial is scheduled to begin on April 12, 2027, and is expected to last between six and seven weeks.

The defendants have not been convicted.

Under UK law, the charges against them remain allegations unless and until proven in court, and all defendants are entitled to a fair trial. The Crown Prosecution Service has also specifically warned against online commentary that could prejudice the criminal proceedings.

HER MOTHER IS AMONG THOSE ACCUSED

One of the most painful aspects of the case is that Maria’s mother, Andrea Skopova, is among the four adults facing murder charges.

The court has previously heard that Skopova is Maria’s mother.

It was also heard that the baby’s father is not known.

Peter Horvath Jr, who is described as Skopova’s boyfriend, is not believed to be Maria’s father. He is the son of Peter Horvath Sr and Nina Horvathova.

Those details are part of the evidence surrounding the case, but the full circumstances of Maria’s birth and death will ultimately have to be examined through the criminal proceedings.

FLOWERS WERE LEFT FOR A BABY THE COMMUNITY NEVER GOT TO KNOW

Outside the property in Holywell Heights, people have left flowers and other tributes.

For local residents, Maria was a baby they never had the chance to meet.

She had no opportunity to attend school, make friends, celebrate a birthday or grow into the person she might have become.

For weeks, even her name was absent from the public story.

She was simply “Baby S.”

Now, that has changed.

She is Maria Skopova.

And the formal naming of a child at an inquest can carry a significance that goes beyond the legal process.

It reminds the public that behind every investigation, every hearing and every charge is a human life.

THE QUESTIONS ARE STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS

There are still many unanswered questions surrounding Maria’s final hours.

What happened after she was born?

Who knew she was there?

What happened inside the property?

And how did a newborn baby come to die on the day she entered the world?

Those questions will form part of the evidence and legal arguments to come.

But because criminal proceedings are ongoing, many details cannot yet be treated as established fact.

South Yorkshire Police have urged people not to speculate publicly while the investigation and court process continue.

MARIA IS NO LONGER JUST “BABY S”

The criminal case will continue for months.

The four adults accused of murder will face trial next April. The teenager charged separately will also continue through the youth justice process.

The inquest will remain adjourned until March.

But one thing has already changed.

The baby who was once known only as “Baby S” now has a name that can be remembered.

Maria Skopova.

She was born on August 30, 2026.

She died on August 30, 2026.

Her life was extraordinarily brief — but she is no longer just a letter in a court file.

She was Maria.

And as the legal process continues, the search for answers about what happened to her remains ongoing.