Two decades after a quick trip for cigarettes turned into a disappearance that rattled Pikesville, Baltimore County detectives say they finally know whose remains were found in Owings Mills. The decomposed body discovered this month has been identified as 46-year-old Nina Tarkovskaya, who left her home on May 21, 2006, to buy a pack of cigarettes and never came back, according to family members and investigators.
As reported by Fox Baltimore, Tarkovskaya’s minivan was later found on fire about four miles from where the body was recovered, with her purse among the charred items pulled from the vehicle. Teenagers came across the decomposed remains near the intersection of Tollgate and Hewitt Farms Roads on June 7, and the county medical examiner subsequently identified the body as Tarkovskaya.
Her disappearance drew local attention back in May 2006, when relatives said she walked out to buy cigarettes at Maria’s Restaurant on Reisterstown Road and did not return. At the time, police were still waiting for conclusive identification of remains connected to the case, contemporary coverage from The Washington Examiner noted.
Detectives Renew Appeal For Tips
Baltimore County Police are again turning to the public and asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide & Missing Persons Unit at 410-887-3943 or to text tips to 443-862-9426. According to Fox Baltimore, investigators say the case remains open, and they will pursue any credible leads that come in.
Cold Case Push In Baltimore County
Detectives in Baltimore County have recently ramped up public appeals in other long-unsolved investigations and are urging residents to take another look at old photos, memories, and notes that might suddenly matter. Hoodline’s recent coverage of the county’s renewed attention to older files, including the Towson cleaners slaying, highlights how often fresh public tips help breathe life into stalled cases.
Anyone who recalls anything about Tarkovskaya’s disappearance or the night her vehicle was found burning is encouraged to contact detectives using the numbers above. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Metro Crime Stoppers. Investigators say that even small details or photographs from 2006 could prove important as forensic tools evolve and witness recollections get a second look.
