New timeline, 911 calls detail horrific Fort Lauderdale-Sarasota murder-suicide

A new timeline and 911 calls are giving new details on a horrific murder-suicide that began in Fort Lauderdale and ended in Sarasota that claimed the lives of seven people including the alleged gunman.

The tragedy unfolded Tuesday, first at a home in the 500 block of Northeast 15th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale’s Victoria Park neighborhood, where 46-year-old Larisa Blyudaya and her son, 18-year-old Ben Azizov, were found murdered, Fort Lauderdale Police said.

Family Photo

Larisa Blyudaya

Officers had responded to the home for a well-being check, and in a 911 call released Friday, a person believed to be Blyudaya’s daughter is heard asking for police to check on her mother.

“I need the police to come right now to come check at my mom’s house in Fort Lauderdale,” she says in the call, which has portions redacted. “There’s somebody that is like, whatever, an admirer of hers that…”

The alleged suspect in the killings, identified as 51-year-old Russell Kot of Fort Lauderdale, is believed to have then traveled to a home in Sarasota County where he murdered four more people before killing himself, authorities said.

The Sarasota victims were identified as 49-year-old Olga Greinert, 66-year-old Florita Stolyar, 61-year-old Anatoly Ioffe, and 39-year-old Yaroslav “Stan” Blyudoy.

Anatoly Ioffe, Yaroslav "Stan" Blyudoy, Larisa Blyudaya, Ben Azivov, Florita Stolyar — Anatoly Ioffe, Yaroslav “Stan” Blyudoy, Larisa Blyudaya, Ben Azizov, Florita Stolyar

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office officials said Friday that Kot had relocated from Illinois to Fort Lauderdale last year and was living with Blyudoy, the daughter of Florita Stolyar, until the end of 2025, when the two separated.

Kot had previously either stayed at the Sarasota home or cared for the family’s animals in the months leading up to Tuesday’s incident, and had met Olga Greinert, the family’s housekeeper, at least once at the residence, authorities said.

After killing Olga Greinert and Yaroslav Blyudoy, Florita Stolyar’s son, Kot sent a suicidal text message to members of his family, authorities said.

He then remained at the Sarasota home until Florita and her husband, Anatoly Ioffe, returned home. Upon their arrival, both were shot and killed, and Kot then shot himself, authorities said.

In one of the 911 calls released Friday, a caller appears to be asking for a wellness check on Kot.

The sheriff’s office said authorities searched Kot’s vehicle and found two handguns, ammunition, five knives, rope, tape, and an axe, in addition to the two handguns he was carrying when he entered the Sarasota home.

More than 20 shell casings were found in the home and the victims were each shot multiple times, authorities said.

Kot’s phone records didn’t reveal a “triggering event” before the shootings involving Larisa Blyudaya or any member of her family, officials said.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the crimes.

In a statement Thursday, the victims’ family members called the horrific crime a “devastating loss.”

“Our family and loved ones are facing an unimaginable loss and are still in deep shock and grief. At the same time, we are currently navigating urgent and overwhelming practical matters, including legal, financial, and administrative processes, while trying to support one another through this,” the statement read, in part. “We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of messages, kindness, and concern. Please know that your support truly means more than we can express.”

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