The devastated parents of a mother who was found dead in her apartment nearly 24 hours after begging police for help have suggested she might have been alive if police had acted more quickly.
Tatiana ‘Tania’ Dokhotaru, 34, was discovered around 8pm on Saturday in her unit in Liverpool, southwest Sydney, on the eve of her son’s fourth birthday.
She called police in distress about 20 hours earlier on Friday night, complaining that her estranged husband allegedly “beat her up,” but that police couldn’t find her apartment.
Her partner Danny Zayat, 28, was arrested at the scene on Saturday and has been charged with a litany of domestic violence-related crimes, including suffocation and violating an arrest warrant.
He has not been charged in connection with her death, but is assisting detectives in their investigation.
Now her parents have criticized the police’s response, with her grief-stricken mother Olga Dokhotaru crying, “How is it possible?”
Tania’s parents Olga Dokhotaru and Denis Thievin (pictured with Tania, left) have criticized the police response, suggesting she might have been alive had they gotten to her apartment sooner
Tatiana ‘Tania’ Dokhotaru, 34, (pictured) celebrates her son’s fourth birthday on Sunday. Police found her body the night before
The victim’s father, Dennis Thievin, said he believed their daughter would still be alive if police reached her unit the night she called.
Police have stated that officers did not reach her unit because the emergency call did not contain enough information, such as the apartment number.
“If they had acted in time, Tania might still be alive today,” Mr Theven said 7News.
“It could have been better than it was.”
Mr Theven will travel to Australia to repatriate his daughter’s body and find answers to why the police have been so slow to respond.
The parents, who live in Canada, learned of their daughter’s tragic death via social media.
In the past, they had begged her to go to the police because of Zayat’s alleged behavior.
Tania’s father Dennis Thievin (pictured, right, with wife Olga) said: ‘If they (the police) had acted in time, Tania might still be alive today’
Her mother paid tribute to Mrs. Dokhotaru, describing her as a “happy, strong woman.”
“I’m lost, big time… I never, ever expected to hear news (of her death),” the mother said, holding back tears.
Ms Dokhotaru was due to celebrate her son’s fourth birthday on Sunday.
Police will allege in court that a frantic Mrs. Dokhotaru called for help on Sunday and said, “He’s bashing me… my husband is taking all the money from my house.” The Daily Telegraph reported.
Nearly four hours after receiving the triple-0 call, which did not include a full address, police arrived at the scene but left shortly after when they were unable to determine her unit number.
Her partner Danny Zayat (pictured), 28, has been charged with domestic violence and is currently assisting police in investigating her death
Police have launched a critical incident investigation into why it took officers so long to find the apartment
Ms. Dokhotaru’s body was not discovered until officers returned to the building the next day after receiving another call from a neighbor.
A critical incident investigation has been launched into the question why the police did not act with more urgency in response to the ‘priority three’ emergency call.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said police response time to Ms Dokhotaru’s triple-O call was “deeply concerning” but called for calm so police could conduct their investigation into the “traumatic incident”.
Zayat told police that the couple had been arguing because she had taken drugs and was drunk.
Tania’s mother described her as a “happy, strong woman.” Pictured is Tania in her youth
He is accused of hitting a television during an argument with Mrs. Dokhotaru on the night of her death.
But Zayat said he left the apartment at midnight on Friday before returning on Saturday when Ms. Dokhotaru did not answer his calls.
A witness called triple-0 after hearing distressed cries of ‘help me’ and Zayat called an ambulance. The police arrested him when they arrived.
His lawyer said it was a “tragic turn of events” and added that he would apply for bail when he appears in court later this week.
Ms Dokhotaru should have spent Sunday celebrating her son’s fourth birthday after the couple returned from a holiday abroad last week.
Daily Mail Australia revealed yesterday that she spent her last days enjoying quality time with her son and starting a new designer brand rental business.