Eagan Woman Charged with Urging Husband to Kill 16-Year-Old Daughter

An Eagan woman charged with encouraging her husband to kill their 16-year-old daughter in February was arrested Tuesday.

Antonina Demyanov, 55, was charged earlier this year with a gross-misdemeanor count of child endangerment, which carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

She pleaded not guilty in May, but after she failed to appear at a hearing in October, an arrest warrant was issued. She appeared in Dakota County District Court Tuesday and was released on her promise to make all future court appearances.

According to the criminal complaint, Eagan police responded to the Demyanovs’ home Feb. 9 after their daughter reported that she had been assaulted by her parents.

The girl told police that when she got home from a friend’s house that evening, both her parents were “extremely intoxicated.” She said her father, Leon Demyanov, was upset with her for taking the car, and demanded that she give him the keys.

The girl said she refused to give him the keys because he was so intoxicated, and he grabbed her around the neck with his right hand and strangled her, at the same time slapping her face.

While the assault was going on, Antonina Demyanov shouted, “Just kill her! Just kill her!”, according to the complaint.

The victim was able to break away from her father and flee the house, the complaint says. As she ran, her father threw items at her, she told police.

Initial arrest warrants for both parents were issued after police repeatedly tried to arrest them at their home and they refused to answer the door, according to the complaint.

Leon Demyanov, 61, was charged in the same incident with domestic assault by strangulation, a felony with a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A jury trial in his case is scheduled to begin Nov. 29.

Antonina Demyanov’s jury trial is scheduled to begin May 21, 2012.