Narva is in shock

Photo: Liis Treimann

The news of Darja (14) found dead in Narva at Pähklimäe health track has shaken the locals. «Awful,» is what everybody is saying these days. 

Not too long ago, in 2012, the body of Varvara – a girl 9 years old at her violent death – was found in Narva snow, deeply scarring the townsfolk. Indeed, part of the locals do link this latest tragic news to the incident of three years ago yet unsolved till today.

«They still do not know who killed the little Varvara back then. Sure, it’s too early to say if this young girl (Darja – edit) was killed but it is difficult to believe she just got lost in that park,» said Lareida, an elderly woman in Narva.

The mental link to Varvara took Journalists of Postimees to Narva Kreenholm Gymnasium where Darja studied, an 8th grader. Her schoolmate Evert would not believe the initial version told by the police whereby murder and sexual offence are not suspected at the moment: «I believe that Narva again features a maniac robbing girls.»

Meanwhile, there is a rumour spreading downtown and among elder students that it was drugs overdose that felled Darja. This, the prosecutor’s office has neither confirmed nor rejected.  

Three students asking for anonymity said they were aware of the whispers. One added the girl found dead was around bad company. «Therefore I think the overdose version to be more likely.»

Headmistress at school Irina Janovitš, however, says Darja was a good student. «Though the school is in deep mourning, we will only hold a solemn moment for her after the investigation results are out,» she added.

While wondering about the cause of death, the public is asking what took Darja to such a secluded spot. Inspecting the location while it was already dark, the journalists fount it was several kilometres walking distance from where Darja was last seen. It was muddy at places, partly a plank pathway.

The body was discovered in a location hardly ever visited, the less so in the evening. It’s more like a swamp, but with lots of trees around it. For many, it feel eerie in the dusk.

While looking around in the dark, we stumbled upon a pink sneaker. The initial though was: «Was it [the sports shoe] Darja’s?» Then we guessed that probably not as otherwise the police would have collected the evidence.

To our great surprise, the experts the next day asked us where the shoe was at. Having found it, the police took it with them.

At midday, the father of Darja – one among those who found the body – took a basket of flowers to the spot. Regarding what happened, he desired not to comment. Neither was Darja’s mother dwelling in Sillamäe inclined to speak too much. She did say it was next to impossible for her to even think about it right now.

Whatever happened to the girl of 14, Viru district prosecutor’s office is tasked to find out.

To those closest to Darja, Postimees extends its condolences.