Parents make a lot of calls when it comes to their children, and it’s our job to make sure we make the best ones we can. That doesn’t just mean which foods we allow them to eat and what clothes to wear; it also applies to basically every aspect of their lives. And perhaps most importantly, it means making calls on who is and who isn’t part of their regular lives. As a parent, if you make the wrong call about the latter, nothing haunts you more.
In 2021, Russian father Vyacheslav Matrosov, 35, had the horrific experience of learning he chose wrong in friend Oleg Sviridov, 32, who raped his 6-year-old daughter. According to the Daily Express US, the father discovered a haunting video recording showing his daughter being sexually abused by Sviridov. In the audio, you can reportedly hear the young girl begging “Oleg, that’s enough, I can’t take it anymore. I want to go home.”
In response, Matrosov reportedly forced Sviridov to dig his own grave in the woods and coerced him into taking his own life. Mastrosov originally faced murder charges in 2022, until the investigation revealed that Sviridov’s wounds were self-inflicted. He was given an 18-month sentence by the Krasnoglinsky Court in Samara for “encouraging” suicide but served 12 months before being freed.
According to The Daily Mirror, had he been found guilty of murder. he would have served up to 15 years in prison. The local neighborhood rallied behind the dad after learning the crime was connected to Sviridov. The residents not only contributed funds to pay for his legal costs, but also over 2,500 signatures were collected on his behalf for his acquittal for “saving our children by ridding us of a child sex attacker.”
The case received national attention, and many also aligned with the father, saying he did a “service” by committing his “crime.”
@charleybournetruecrime the case of Vyacheslav Matrosov #truecrime #truecrimetok #crimetok #crimetiktok #truecrimecommunity #truecrimestory ♬ original sound – Charley Bourne True Crime
People online stated that he was a “good father” for his actions.
“Honestly I can’t imagine I would do anything differently,” empathized one online commentator on TikTok. “A hero. He did what dad’s are supposed to do, he protected his child.”
“The man deserves 100% freedom. Can’t punish a man for being a good father,” added another, noting the 12 months served was “too long.”
“I honestly think if you condemn what he did, don’t be a parent,” another commenter shared.
Vigilante work is usually a morally gray area, but when it comes to people hurting children, I can side with a “killer” in this case.
