She handicapped lay down >> and her father. He's really caught in the middle of this tragedy. On the one hand, his elderly mother has been murdered. On the other, his daughter accused of the heinous crime. >> Try to make you go through this again. >> This is Vladimir Kaval, a poor father who has just realized that his own 14-year-old daughter, Sophia Kaval, took his mother's life. And as he finds himself in the crossfire of this tragic crime, both Vladimir and the detectives will realize that the signs behind this unthinkable act had been there since the beginning. >> Cuz she's fairly aggressive now. So she was even more aggressive then more aggressive. >> Signs that were missed and signs that this story is much more than it appears. >> She was crying for her mama. She was speaking about war. It was just after midnight on May 23rd, 2023 when Vladimir Kaval returned to his apartment in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida after a rare night out with friends. An immigrant from Ukraine, he had recently moved into the apartment with his daughter, 14-year-old Sophia Kaval, and his mother, 79-year-old Yevania Kaval. It was supposed to be a safe escape from the war raging in their home country, a place where they could all start over and live peaceful lives. But when Vladimir walked into the apartment that night, he realized his life was never going to be peaceful again. [music] His mother laid on the floor, beaten beyond recognition. She was 79 years old and had survived World War II, living under a dictatorship, the fall of the Soviet Union, and finally the war with Russia. And tragically, after overcoming all of that, her life had been snatched from her in her own home by her own granddaughter. Sophia stood next to Yavania, sobbing hysterically with blood on her clothes and face. She repeatedly told her father that she was sorry and had just been defending herself. Horrified, Vladimir called 911. His mother was rushed to a nearby hospital and was sadly pronounced dead on arrival. Now he was forced to process the reality that not only was his loving mother gone, but the person who meant the most in the world to him, his daughter, was the one who had killed her. The following footage was kindly provided to us by the Broward Sheriff's Office in Florida. Do >> you understand what perjury is? No. >> So, perjury is lying while you're under arrest. So, I just swore you in. So, if you if I find out you're lying to me, you could be charged as a crime here with that. Okay. >> All right. Um, obviously, we talked off record already once, but I want to go on record with everything. So, we have it all in here. >> Um, briefly tell me you came over. When did you come to America? >> Uh, 1996. >> Oh, so you were over in 1996. Yeah. >> Okay. When did you bring your daughter over here then? >> Uh September 15th, 2023. >> All right. So, were you kind of going back and forth or how did >> Were you So, you were living over You went over there and you brought her back? >> Uh, I was there living >> Okay. >> in Florida for 7 years and um I was traveling back and forth to see my family. Um, and then did you bring your grandmother over here or your mother? Her grandmother, did you bring her over at the same time? >> No, she she came in 2016. >> So your your mother had been here before. >> She been with me all these years till now. >> So she comes over here 2016 and then you bring your daughter over in September of 2023. I mean 2020. Yeah, 2023. Um so kind of just so you did your grandmother fall and break her hip or what happened with that? How did that happen? >> She fall >> and when was that? >> Uh first time she fall on uh January I would say >> you know this. So was the end of January? >> End of January. >> Okay. Correct. She just came from Ukraine. >> Okay. >> And for day after she she >> So she was traveling back and forth to Ukraine. >> She was traveling to Ukraine for her dental. >> Okay. >> And I go to pick her up in January. >> All right. >> So basically I travel to uh Poland. >> Okay. >> Pick my daughter up and drop my uh mother. >> All right. >> For going to Ukraine, check on property and so on. So I took my daughter. She went to Ukraine for four months at January. I brought her in. >> The Kaval story is the story of many immigrants making their way in a new country. Initially, Vladimir came over by himself in 1996 to make money for his family and build a life for himself as a young man. He visited Ukraine often where he fell in love with Sophia's mother and the two had Sophia in 2010. Yes, believe it or not, someone born in 2010 is somehow old enough to murder someone else. When the war ramped up heading into 2021, Sophia's parents decided it would be best for her to follow her father to the US where she'd be safe. Her grandmother, Yavania, would be able to help raise her, at least until her mother could successfully immigrate or the war came to an end. Sadly, neither of those came. And by 2023, something in Sophia seemed to snap. Now, since Sunday, has there been any problems between your daughter and her at all? Not really. >> We have I don't remember what the date was. Okay. Today is already 20. >> Yeah. >> Okay. On the No, we didn't have a problem. I I brought Heidi in >> and um we have no problem. >> But there was a problem before. You said there was one instance where your daughter raised a hand to her. that that was back in a uh uh actually it was let me say it was okay brother and it was probably like a January >> January >> but she never your daughter never hit her right at all. >> No no she never complained. No complain. But she noticed that you know what she raised hand to hit me. >> Uhhuh. >> But she didn't. Would she like talk back to her at all or >> nothing? >> Okay. >> I didn't notice because grandma, she's silent. She very peaceful. She never arguing. >> She never have anything to say. >> All right. And then now today we talked off record about the pool. I guess she was your daughter was being a little aggressive at the pool you were saying or kind of acting different. >> Something like that different. I don't know if it was reason because she doesn't sleep or she was. >> So let's walk through that on the record actually. We'll go that actually. So I guess so basically today is now Thursday. Um so Tuesday into Wednesday you had told me your daughter didn't sleep at all, right? Is that what happened? >> She sleep but we went to sleep like a 4:00 morning. >> 4:00 a.m. And you woke up around like 8:00 a.m. you said? >> Uh yeah 8:00 a.m. make a decision bring her to school or not. >> So now why was was she like hyper or >> she was crying for mama? She was speaking about uh war. I don't know. She was complaining that um you know that uh nobody listen her and um I mean all this kind of nonsense I would say. >> Has she ever spoken like this before really at all? Oh, she she was spoken like that in a actually in a September some sometime September. No, September is was good. October. I mean that that thing is happening but not not in that extreme. >> All right. Now obviously we were down by the car earlier and you saw the way she was acting down there. Was she acting similar or is this a lot worse than she was acting? >> Uh just now. >> Yeah. >> No, she was a lot worse. >> Now she's a lot worse than she was. No, now it's I mean she's speaking nonsense, but uh I saw her much let's say last night speaking about the night before >> she was super aggressive. >> Okay. So even more [clears throat] because she's fairly aggressive now. So she was even more aggressive then. >> More aggressive. >> Okay. So if I gave her melatonin and she have instead one I told her one she got a five and then >> she took five herself five. Yeah. I didn't see it. She told me that she got a five. >> Thankfully the only side effect of taking too much melatonin is becoming a walking zombie the next day. Not violence, hallucinations, or psychotic behavior. Obviously the melatonin didn't excuse Sophia's behavior. Her father, however, believes that her lack of sleep contributed to her violent decision. It's true mental health conditions can be exacerbated by a lack of sleep. And though I'm no psychiatrist, it seems that Sophia's mental health had begun deteriorating well before she came to the US. While in Ukraine, the war forced Sophia out of school. Around this time, she began ranting to anyone who would listen about things she claimed happened to her. Drug usage, attempted attacks by men, and rampant bullying. However, there was never any evidence that any of these events took place. And in retrospect, her father has called her constant insistence that they had a red flag. When Sophia came to the US, he tried to get her mental health treatment. But even with his insurance, he couldn't afford weekly psychiatrist and therapy appointments. >> Now, during the day then, how was she during the day after she slept? >> During the day, she wake up. Um, we have a conversation once with my fiance in Ukraine, her mother. >> We have a long conversation till probably no. So, uh, she was always arguing and then I decided I mean we put her in her bedroom. I mean, just separate her. So, we have a conversation with a mother speaking about her behavior and what to do. So she was still kind of aggressive even during the day after sleeping. >> She was aggressive not in that extent but uh she wasn't uh eating >> and we went I mean I trying to diffuse the situation. I took her grandma to the pool >> and as asking her can you go with grandma because she [snorts] not once she was taking grandma to the pool >> instead me. So then I later on joined them but she refused. So I drive on a a scroller wheelchair. I drive mother to the pool and everything was fine. we play with it, but she was kind of like a silent just hitting the ball hard and acting running, jumping in the water, uh diving kind of like a not as typical, you know, relaxing. She was up >> kind of amped a little bit, I said. >> Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if it's because she didn't drink or didn't eat or some what would trigger her, but it was manageable. I can talk to her, >> right? >> I can tell what to do and she was listening. So, I didn't bother her. So, we step aside with grandma. We have a prayer. It's typical our exercise. And I said, "We going home. Are you coming?" She said, "Give me another half an hour. So we left. >> She lived there by herself for about half hour. >> Yeah, I left her by herself playing with kids. There was kids and she want to stay I see. So I thought fine. >> There was adults around, you know. So I went home. I prepare the dinner. I made the laundry. And then by it was already [snorts] 4:00. You had talked about that she was pulling the um like a a swim thing away from your grandmother. You said earlier that she was >> Yeah, that's it was today. >> Okay. >> Was today. >> So, was she doing it like out of anger or why was she or do you even know why she was doing it? >> For some reason, she get on her get out and force her out of the pool. >> Force your grandmother out of the pool >> or forcing her out the pool because kind of afraid her sunburn >> saying, "Hey, get out. to get uh that lotion or something and she pull me uh so I make a noticeable uh correction. I say listen leave her alone, go play with the ball or do anything else. >> So now does she eat dinner dinner at night then or around 4? You said you made food or whatever. Did she eat >> food? No, she she was in a pool. I felt grandma to pick her up and offer her food. >> And did she >> and uh I left food on the table >> expecting that she she will finish it. >> So there was food for grandma. She ate it and another I left. >> Did your daughter eat the food at all or not? >> I didn't notice if she ate or not but it looked like when I noticed like inside my eyes it was there still. So when you left, so you said then you leave around 7 to 8:00 p.m. >> 7. Yeah. 7 76 I would say. >> Between 6:00 and 7, you think? >> 6 to 7. >> 67. All right. >> That night, Vladimir went out with friends, having hid Sophia's phone as both a punishment for her acting out and out of the hope that without the distraction, she may finally get some muchneeded sleep. Instead, she lashed out at her grandmother for reasons we may never know. In the aftermath, Sophia insisted that her grandmother had scratched her first, but there was not a single injury on Sophia anywhere when she was taken into custody. >> Where's your daughter at when you leave? >> She was in the bed >> in bedroom. >> And I told her, listen, I got to go take care of that your room, >> right? >> Because she never make her bed. She never does clothes. Basically, I noticed it's not first time. It was 94 >> that she just put pull all clothes from the closet put on a bedroom and I said listen what the heck you have to follow the rules so she refused so and that how it started argument because she didn't want to I said listen I give you 10 minutes I give you half an hour and always the same she will never do it so I came and I forced I mean not force I took the because it's already midnight, >> right? >> So to close on a commote and force out to the back. >> So it was the night before. >> No, no. Uh yeah. Yeah, that night before on 22nd on yesterday, right? >> So um basically it's how she got so excited >> and then she have an argument with me. Why you forcing me? I don't want to sleep with me but I know if I not sleep she would not sleep. She would do. So I lay her down. I said she would not sleep. So we went mother call all night. So she was worried. We went to the living room and speaking with mother. She was walking around you know here and there. She hot she cold. She want to drink. Then I mother said listen you got to take meaton get magnesium and B6 kind of said to help her >> right >> so I don't know I didn't see it she took it >> but she came to me and she dropped on me another melatone okay it's for you I said I don't need I'm fine I'm ready to go sleep so she took it like swallow says here how many I got already five and then she went back >> yeah so then so when you go to leave then now another argument kind of started when you go to leave around six there was another argument over the clothing again >> there again it was the same argument and >> and you took her phone from her then or what happens or >> yeah I hide the phone because I know if I leave the phone she's going to play she will do nothing >> no you said was the phone still hitting when you came home or was the phone out >> it was out. I mean, it was hidden. >> Oh, was it? Okay. >> It was hidden. >> All right. Where's Where's the phone at now? >> On a table. >> So, you took it out and put it there or what happened? >> Look, um, when I was living, >> right, >> I had the phone in my uh bedroom uh shelf, >> right? >> So, expecting that she will not find it, >> right? >> And when I came, I see grandma already, >> right? >> You know, laying down. I want to know if she found the phone. Did she use the phone? Did you call anybody? >> Okay. >> So, I went to the bedroom, checked it on the phone. Phone was there, but I put and I came to the bedroom trying not to do and put the phone on the table. >> All right. Um, so let's get I guess now. So, you leave around 67. Where exactly do you go? >> Uh, okay. [clears throat] I go to my friend. >> Where does he live? He he doesn't he came here for business? >> No. No. Where's Where do you go to meet him at? >> It's a It's a Oakland Oak open Oak Park. >> Was the Do you know the address or >> I don't know. Actually, I have everything in my >> I came I pick him up and we do some delivery. This is This is >> 4071 North East 21st Avenue. So you pick him up from there within around there. Do you pick him up, do you think? >> I would say like around 7 because we have uh some he prepared some ribs. >> So we we have uh dinner together and then I asked him if he wanted to go with me. we went to for so one stop we I have in galler mall >> and another stop it was it's called um what is called um uh okay uh approximate I will give you approximate this is What is it called? Uh this is like a apartment building. >> Apartment on SR. >> Huh? >> On sixth street. >> On SAR. Yeah. SRA and for uh that uh in Federal >> on Federal. Okay. >> On SA. Yeah. >> So you're dropping off package or what do you drop or >> uh I got um Easter uh pie. >> All right. >> Left over from the church. >> Okay. >> So they asked me to distribute. So I found the people >> people take it. So >> And then you go back. Do you drop him back off at his apartment? >> I drop him back in apartment. >> And you drive home. >> And I drive home. >> Okay. >> And so when you come home, is your daughter in the living room when you come home or where? >> No, she was in the bedroom. >> In the bedroom. >> Bedroom. >> Scream. >> And I I've Yeah. >> Like like yelling yelling or what? Was something blubbering like a crying kind of like But not like Not really yelling. >> Okay. >> Not loud. Just kind of make a noise. Make a cry. Make a cry. >> And I I see grandma. I couldn't recognize. So I as come here. What you did? What happened? What happened? >> You said she was laying same way we found her. >> Same as you found it. >> She was laying face up on the ground. >> I think whole bruised. >> Okay. So your daughter says that she had a Sorry. I'm trying to make you go through this again. But your daughter said that your grandmother that think your mom attacked her or hit her or something like that or is that what happened? Why you did it? Why you did what you did to grandma? She's courage me. So Sophia doesn't look defensive. >> She handicapped. She lay down. How it's could be how you defend her. Can I looked at your daughter? Did you see any marks on your daughter at all? >> I didn't see at all. >> Okay. Did she say like point to any place that she was scratched at all or did you not? >> No, she didn't show me anything. She said she's but no, I think she'll just pay back. I I think it's more aggravation over me and that I have no ability to bring her mom because it's a typical topic. >> I need a mom. I need a mom. I want a mom. Say you s me to say we have to have a time. So I couldn't control that and then she goes like exposed and scream. It was night before. >> So she said she said she hit her with a belt. Is that what she said? She hit her with the belt. >> She was dead. The belt. >> Did she say she used anything else though? >> No, she didn't tell me. >> Did she say how many times she hit her or did she give anything? >> I didn't I didn't ask. I didn't have time to ask. >> And then obviously we talked about the there's a the walker look like the piece was broken off of it. Yeah, I think said there was also as a tool. >> Ultimately, Yavania was killed by blunt force trauma. Her granddaughter's weapon of choice was not only her fists and a belt, but her grandmother's own walker, which she was unable to move without? >> I said before this though, had Sophia been has she ever been physical with you at all? Like tried to hit you like that? >> Uh, I would say she may get them. She may get them. Actually, I don't know. It was triggered because night before I pick her from the school, I went to some gentleman. So, he prepared dinner. So, we swim in the pool and there was something like that. She trying to uh push me in the pool. So, I said I don't want to. So, I start refressive. She was and then she see she losing. She started crying. She went to in his apartment because we was outdoors and she was crying. So I let it go. I didn't make any attempt to calm her down. But then I feel you know I'm stronger. Why are you trying to fight with me? So this was gay that I had to bring and from the hand I think she was very offended. Did it seem like she was play fighting then or was it more of aggressive fighting would you say? >> It's for beginning it was like a play and then I see she was aggressive. >> Okay. >> So it kind of switched in the middle. >> It switched in the middle >> and she trying and I basically I kept her over the pool. I said why you pulling me and trying to drop me in the pool? I can do it better as you so I keep it. I say you want to go down to the pool and dress no. So she start like see that and I pull her away and I said you see I have a chance you know do it >> by trying to and she would start crying and then yeah she had joy separated she went home and then I mean I see she disappointed so I took the car and brought her back to apartment >> and then it actually didn't start then she our mother call and she like we're trying to uh uh drop her to the pool. Say I didn't but she initiated it. She trying to fight with me. >> I mean it's one case of it. >> Obviously the way she was acting was very obviously very agitated right now and it I I don't think that's nor that's not normal for her at all. >> Okay. How has that been happening more frequently or how would you has it been getting worse and worse or has she like right the way she's acting now even the last night obviously has that been happening more often? Is that something that's going on for a long time or is that fairly new? It's going a long time since she came >> and then the issue came. I don't know was maybe as a child she didn't understand that the immigration doesn't play you know >> and her mother I don't know if mother insist to her and she put a pressure on me >> but so over in Ukraine was she having these type of outbursts and kind of being >> in Ukraine? Yeah. Being very uh agitated. I would say >> I would say once she had the issue. >> Okay. >> Once the time that she had >> Okay. How long ago was that? Would you say >> it was uh in 2013 like in Mar uh 20 uh right when war was started. >> Okay. >> 2022. >> 22. Okay. >> Yeah. Let's say 2022 and brother 2023. Yeah. >> Okay. But other than that it was maybe the one time other than that not this >> 2000 I I guess now it's happened 2023 on the beginning more >> okay >> yes yeah >> and then so now now so it's kind of seemed like it's maybe been increasing as time has gone by she's getting worse and worse would you say or >> I would say she she become uh kind of worse >> because of mother >> right >> and that attachment she broke >> and she starts very aggressive with me she always argue I she have to avoid the argument. It was very hard. So then I see it doesn't help. >> So I've been pushing her, you know, to do her duty with the school with surveying. So >> um obviously have to go down now maybe seeing your daughter come up here and talk and stuff like that. Before we go off record, anything else you think I need to know that you want to tell me? I mean I just everything in my mind I trying to think about that last night >> right? Yeah, it was rough night and u yeah she was crying. She didn't sleep. We have a call from because Ukraine is very awaken. >> So we talked to mother. I mean she she was pushing me out of the bed because she didn't want me there. I insisted and I was already sleeping and I she I was calm. She trying to speak speak. I say Sophia you got stopped >> and she was big and she she saw me not replying she fell asleep >> that's something then today morning I wake her up she was upset that she didn't go to school I explain her >> and I didn't know nothing is anything like bring to the point where we at >> right yeah there's a big difference between being aggravate being agitated and then attacking someone and actually hurting them. All right, sir. Um All right. >> I should I mean I should I should come a little bit early. She said I said when it happened when I came like half an hour. >> Oh, so she did say it happened about half an hour beforehand. >> Yeah, before I came. So >> did she did you ask like did you call did you say why didn't you call 911 or you ask any of that kind of stuff? >> I mean she didn't have a tall phone but anyway I never expected. >> So so you said when did this happen? She says a half hour before. >> Yeah. >> Due to the dramatic nature of this crime the trial caught the attention of the entire state. Florida's motto, after all, is come on vacation, leave on probation for a reason. They aren't generally soft when it comes to the charges they hand out. In this case, though, many argue that they were. Sophia took a plea deal, pleading guilty to manslaughter, which due to her age will result in spending up to 3 years in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Additionally, the judge put her under courtmandated supervision until she's 21, after which she's expected to be deported back to Ukraine since she had yet to become an American citizen. >> Goal to the states now asking me to sentence her on the juvenile sanctions. >> Yes, sir. >> Miss Koval on case number 2410822 CF10A. You have the right to plead not guilty and go to trial like we've talked about. You can plead guilty where you say you did it or you can plead no contest. No contest is you're not saying you did it. You're not saying you didn't do it. You're just saying, "Judge, I'm willing to take this punishment in order to move on with my life. How do you wish to plead? >> You are going to be transferred to a juvenile program. You will meet with a conditional release officer at that program. You will you will meet with the officials at that program. You will be given all your terms and conditions. Do you understand that? >> You have you have 30 days to appeal the sentence and judgment of the court. If you can't afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. >> Good luck. >> Thank you. For her father, the crime was unbearable. He expressed that while he loves his mother and believes the crime is a travesty, he still loves his daughter and wants to support her healing journey. When the verdict was read, he thanked the prosecution, defense, and judge, telling them that though his heart was forever shattered, he appreciated how they handled the case. Whatever outcome is I accept your judgment and to say in the end I just mentioned I saw the seal of state attorney which saying we trust in God we trust and some verse came to me I want to express that back in the time, time of Noah, time of great knowledge and great ignorance. There was flood. Noah's standing on a boat in a deck seeing his son overboard drone. He's he cry hard to the hand and say, "Lord, I see my son drowning. let me save you. And he he hears the voice saying, "Your family, your children on a boat, take care of those who had I don't possess I don't present myself as a guy. But if I [snorts] if I will be on a boat in his shoes, I definitely will reach my hands to my son to my daughter. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you for watching today's video. Whether you're new here or have been with us for a while, check out one of the craziest cases I've ever covered right here or one of my newest uploads right here.