Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
In April 1996, the death of Yakov Gluzman shocked the nation. Authorities found out about his murder after a police officer arrested a man who was seen throwing several bags into the river. As the investigation progressed, police discovered that Yakov’s wife, Rita Gluzman, might be involved in the case. Oxygen plans to re-examine the aforementioned case in its true-crime series Snapped. The episode, featuring Yakov Gluzman’s murder case, will air on the network on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET.
As per the New York Times, authorities started searching for Rita Gluzman after they arrested her cousin, Vladimir Zelenin, while disposing of Yakov’s dismembered body. Citing the investigators, the outlet mentioned that the police found Vladimir with 11 bags stuffed with body parts, cutting instruments, and clothing.
A few days later, the police apprehended Rita for the possession of a stolen license plate. The judge reportedly told Rita’s attorney that this was not a “normal burglary” and there was a possibility that the client might be involved in a murder case. The judge sent her to jail for burglary and refused to give her bail. Subsequently, the authorities charged her with helping Vladimir Zelenin kill Yakov.
In January 1997, the trial began, and the prosecution presented evidence against Rita. As per WFAA8 ABC, Rita killed Yakov after learning he was having an affair with another woman. So, she planned to kill her husband.
After weeks of arguments, the jury deliberated for 10 hours and reached a guilty verdict. According to the New York Times, the jury sentenced her to life imprisonment. However, in July 2020, Rita Gluzman walked out of prison after being granted a compassionate release, per WFAA8 ABC. She spent 19 years of at FMC Carswell and moved to Hackensack.
Rita Gluzman’s murder case explored
The case garnered much media attention because Rita Gluzman was an activist and did a heroic thing for her husband in the past. According to WFAA8 ABC, Rita sat on an 18-day hunger strike at the United Nations after Yakov was not allowed to leave the Soviet Union. Her hunger strike proved to be crucial in allowing Gluzman to move out of the Soviet Union and meet his family.
However, things went downhill after their relationship strained. Citing court documents, WFAA8 ABC reported that Yakov Gluzman physical abused Rita Gluzman. He then moved out of the house and wanted a divorce. Moreover, the revelation of her husband’s other relationship started affecting her mental health.
The outlet also reported that she requested Vladimir Zelenin to help in killing her husband. During the trial, Vladimir pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and entered a plea deal. He testified against his cousin, Rita Gluzman, and noted how she plotted the entire scheme. She purchased cutting instruments from the Home Depot, as per the New York Times. Additionally, Vladimir alleged that she remained completely silent after murdering Yakov.
During the closing arguments, the prosecutors noted the thought of her husband leaving her and starting a new life with another woman made her angry. Meanwhile, the defense team kept on insisting that Vladimir was the only person responsible for Yakov’s death and testified against Rita Gluzman to get a shorter sentence.
Court granted Rita a compassionate release
However, the jury found Rita Gluzman guilty in the murder case of Yakov Gluzman and sentenced her to life imprisonment. After the sentencing, Rita said, “Your honor, I did not do that and still say that in front of the world.”
As mentioned above, she spent 19 years of her sentence at FMC Carswell. The court granted her compassionate release after “after experiencing several medical issues including multiple strokes and a diagnosis of early Parkinson’s disease.” According to WFAA8 ABC, she moved to a home in Hackensack, just 20 miles from New York City.
