“15 STAB WOUNDS… AND LEFT IN AN OUTHOUSE” — HEARTBREAKING CASE OF NEWBORN BABY MARIA SKOPOVA

A heartbreaking case in Sheffield has shocked the community after a newborn baby girl was found dead on the same day she was born.

The baby, initially identified in court only as “Baby S,” has now been named as Maria Skopova following the opening of an inquest.

Maria was born on August 30, 2026, in the Wincobank area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. She died that same day.

Her death has led to a major police investigation, with four adults charged with murder and a 15-year-old girl facing a separate charge of perverting the course of justice.

MARIA WAS ONLY HOURS OLD

Police were called on the morning of August 30 following concerns about the safety of a newborn baby.

Officers searched a property on Holywell Heights in Wincobank, where Maria was discovered inside an outbuilding.

Paramedics and police attempted to help her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A forensic post-mortem later established that Maria died as a result of stab wounds.

The circumstances surrounding her death have since become the subject of criminal proceedings.

COURT HEARD THE BABY SUFFERED 33 WOUNDS

During earlier court proceedings, prosecutors said Maria had suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbing incidents.

The court also heard that her body was found wrapped in a towel and placed inside a bag in an outbuilding at the Holywell Heights property.

These details have formed part of the prosecution case, but the allegations have not yet been tested at trial.

The Crown Prosecution Service has stressed that bringing charges is not a finding of guilt and that all defendants have the right to a fair trial.

 FOUR ADULTS ARE CHARGED WITH MURDER

Four people have been charged with Maria’s murder:

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

All four are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice.

Prosecutors allege that steps were taken to conceal what had happened after Maria’s death.

Andrea Skopova is Maria’s mother.

The court previously heard that Maria’s father was unknown and that Peter Horvath Jr., who was Skopova’s boyfriend, was not believed to be the baby’s father.

Horvath Jr. is the son of Peter Horvath Sr. and Nina Horvathova.

 A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL IS ALSO ACCUSED

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

She appeared alongside the four adults during the latest proceedings.

At Sheffield Crown Court on October 2, none of the defendants entered a plea.

All five were remanded in custody.

 SEVEN PEOPLE WERE INITIALLY ARRESTED

The investigation began with the arrest of seven people aged between 15 and 38 on suspicion of murder.

South Yorkshire Police later confirmed that two people, aged 26 and 37, had been released on bail.

Police have described the investigation as complex and urged people not to speculate about the circumstances online while criminal proceedings are active.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward said investigators remained committed to pursuing every line of inquiry and securing justice for the baby girl.

 TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN LEFT FOR MARIA

As the investigation continued, members of the community left flowers and small tributes near the property on Holywell Heights.

Maria’s death has deeply affected the local community and the emergency workers who attended the scene.

An inquest into her death opened on October 1.

Senior Coroner Tanyka Rawden heard that Maria died on the day she was born and that the inquest would be adjourned while the criminal proceedings continued.

The inquest is scheduled to resume on March 25, 2027.

 MURDER TRIAL SET FOR APRIL 2027

The four adults and the teenage defendant appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on October 2.

A further hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2026.

The murder trial is due to begin on April 12, 2027, and is expected to last approximately six to seven weeks.

Until that trial takes place, the allegations against the defendants remain allegations.

 A BABY WHO NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO GROW UP

Maria Skopova’s life lasted only a few hours.

She was born on August 30 and died before she had the chance to grow up, meet the wider world or build a life of her own.

Now, investigators, prosecutors and the courts are working to establish exactly what happened during those final hours.

For the Sheffield community, the case has left behind grief, unanswered questions and a small collection of flowers outside the place where Maria’s short life came to an end.

As the legal process continues, her name — Maria Skopova — is no longer simply a case number or “Baby S.”

She was a newborn baby girl whose life had only just begun.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.