Englishwoman Reportedly Found Dead in Bulgarian Village, Murder Suspected

The dead body of a woman believed to be English has been found near her house in the village of Malomir, in Yambol Region in southeastern Bulgaria, 24 Chasa news daily reported on Friday.

A murder is suspected as the body is rumored to have been partially burnt, according to the newspaper.

The body has not been officially identified yet.

Citing unofficial information, 24 Chasa said the body belonged to a woman aged about 60, who had settled in Malomir in spring 2015 together with her physically disabled husband. Prior to that the family had lived in Turkey.

The body was found by a local man on Thursday night some 200 meters away from the home where the woman lived. She was suspected murdered shortly after going out to walk her dogs at around 10 p.m. (0700 GMT) on Thursday.

Police has declined to disclose any official information, 24 Chasa said.

The regional prosecuting authority in Yambol said an investigation is underway and the reason for the woman’s death will be announced only after the autopsy of the body is completed.

Local media is reporting that the family name is Bennett...the husbands name is Nick and the late lady was named Jean or possibly Sharn. I'm trying to translate this from Bulgarian and it could be either version.

Neighbours reported that she went out with the dogs as usual, but came rushing back a while later...left the dogs and went out again.

Sounds a bit strange to me....does anyone know them, or are they part of our forum?

Very sad, whichever way you look at this.

It was reported this morning that the alledged killer of Mrs Bennett has been apprehended by police.

Such sad news, the family only moved to BG in the spring it was on Facebook yesterday she was from the Dobrich area. May she R.I.P

And this is today update:


Bulgaria PM: Perpetrator of brutal murder in Yambol detained
2 August 2015 | 12:36 | FOCUS News Agency

Bulgaria PM: Perpetrator of brutal murder in Yambol detainedPicture: Focus Information Agency
Sofia. “Perpetrator of the brutal murder committed in the district of Yambol has been detained,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced, Radio FOCUS reported.
The body of a dead woman was found in the village of Malomir, district of Yambol. The crime was committed on July 30. The woman was raped, severely hit and burnt. The victim is a British woman. She was around 60 years old. She went out to walk her two dogs when she was attacked. The DNA found on the crime scene helped the authorities to catch the perpetrator, who is a recidivist.
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov greeted the teams that solved the heavy crime.

Novinite.com  August 2, 2015, Sunday // 15:42


The perpetrator of the brutal murder of a 60-year old woman, a British national, in the village of Malomir, Yambol District, has been arrested, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Borisov told journalists Sunday that the DNA samples taken at the crime scene fully coincided with the DNA of the suspect.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, as cited by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), announced that the suspect was a repeat offender.

The 60-year-old victim was raped and brutally murdered on July 30.

She had taken out her two dogs for a walk on Thursday evening but she never returned home.

The Mayor of Malomir, Hristina Dimova, informed on July 31 that the British woman and her husband had settled in the village several months before that.

The village brings together the largest group of British citizens in the municipality, around 30 people.

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More information and a picture of the murdered lady and some details about this very sad situation and brutal crime. I wonder what will be the outcome of the murderer and how long it will take to bring him to justice

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British woman murdered in Bulgaria just months after moving there
pay tribute to Jan Bennett, who was killed just yards from the house she recently moved to in rural Bulgaria


A British woman who moved to Bulgaria three months ago with her disabled husband has been raped and murdered, officials in the country said.

Jan Bennett, 67, was attacked while out walking her dogs close to her home in the remote village of Malomir, around 200 miles east of the capital Sofia.

Her body, which had reportedly been set alight, was discovered just 200 yards from her home, according to Bulgarian police.

A local man, named as Ivan Georgiev, 40, was arrested on Saturday. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday Boyko Borisov, the Bulgarian prime minister, said DNA found at the scene of the crime matched that of the suspect.

Georgiev was arrested at his place of work in a local vineyard just hours after Mrs Bennett's body was found.

Hristina Dimova, the local mayor, suggested the victim may have been murdered for money, and added the killing has shocked the local community.

“They came to us from Turkey about three months ago, and the family was living quietly. The news [of her death] has hit us like a thunderbolt.”

Mrs Bennett had moved to the area with her husband, having previously spent a number of years living in the Turkish coastal resort of Altinkum.

She and her husband had been popular members of the expat community in Altinkum and were active members of a local church group there.

A memorial service is due to be held in Altinkum at the weekend.

One of Mrs Bennett's closest friends, restaurateur Karin Dalbak, paid tribute to her saying: “You were a one off ... You coped with life without complaint even when times were difficult. Truly a beautiful lady with a heart of gold. The world is a poorer place without you Jan.”

The Facebook page of Didim Voices, an English-language paper covering the area of Turkey where the Bennetts once lived, filled up with condolence notices and tributes to the victim.

“I’m broken hearted about Jan. Her ordeal doesn’t bear thinking about,” wrote one. “Such a lovely, funny and caring person—I shall miss her. My heart goes out to her family.”

Mrs Bennett’s 62-year-old husband is understood to have been admitted to a local hospital where he was being treated for shock. Local press reported he had never sought specialist help to cope with his unspecified disability and relied solely on his wife.

The victim’s brother is also thought to be travelling out the area from the UK.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm reports of the death of a British national in Bulgaria and are providing consular assistance.”

Bulgaria has become a popular retirement destination for British citizens attracted by its cheap property, lower living costs and good weather.

Estimates put the British population in the south-eastern European country at 18,000.

The village of Malomir where Mrs Bennett had made her home had around 27 Britons living there, out of a population of 740.


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This is very sad and my condolences go to her family especially her husband. RIP

RIP Jan I hope this barstuward is hung out to dry and even that would be too good.

This is so sad I am lost for words to think that this could happen to what seems to be a lovely lady. R.I.P

With the history that this criminal has got he surly must get life, whatever that means in Bulgaria

Bulgarian prosecution authorities have indicted Ivan Nikolov with charges of raping and murdering British national Janette Bennett, BTA news agency reported on Tuesday.

Nikolov is charged with raping the British pensioner in Malomir village, in Yambol Region in southeastern Bulgaria last Thursday, and murdering her with extreme brutality to conceal the rape, BTA quoted Yambol Regional Prosecution Office as saying.

Nikolov has 10 sentences for various offences committed during the period 2002-2012. His criminal record includes theft, drunk driving and driving without licence. His most recent prison term ended in December 2012, BTA said.

According to 24 Chasa news daily, in most of his court trials Nikolov, 40, pleaded guilty in order to win lower prison terms, which were in the range of four to 18 months.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said on Sunday the perpetrator of the murder of the British national had been arrested
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Hang him I say

Hanging is to good for this evil person. My sincere thoughts are with the family at this time.

Hanging is too quick and too easy...life sentence and never to be released would be what I'd like to see.

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Found this on Facebook

Didim Voices

Brief update....on Jan Bennett murder suspect Ivan Nikolov found hanged..

"The details and the circumstances of suicide are under investigation. Following its completion can be given additional information," said Yambol District Attorney Doychin Doychev

"He was able to tear the sheet and hanged himself on it, using the grid of the window."

The incident occurred around 22.30 hours on 25 August. At that time, Nikolov was alone in his cell. None of the three police officers on duty heard and saw what happened.

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