Seven Dead in Suspected Cross-State Murder Spree

Authorities say the killings in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale are connected

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Multiple people were found dead in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Wednesday in what police say was a cross-state murder spree by the same suspect. Seven total victims were discovered, including the suspected gunman who died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in Sarasota.

Why it matters

The tragic killings have shaken the local communities and raised concerns about public safety, as well as the potential motives and connections between the victims across the two crime scenes.

The details

In Fort Lauderdale, police responded to a well-being check and found two adults, Laris Blyudaya, 46, and Ben Azivov, 18, dead in a home. Across the state in Sarasota, police found five more victims, including the suspected gunman Russell Kot, 51, who died from self-inflicted wounds. The other Sarasota victims were identified as Olga Greinert, 49, Florita Stolyar, 66, Anatoly Ioffe, 61, and Yaroslav Blyudoy, 39. Authorities say the killings appear to be an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public, but the connections between the victims are still under investigation.

  • The murders occurred on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Russell Kot

The 51-year-old suspect who police believe died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds after the killings in Sarasota.

Laris Blyudaya

A 46-year-old victim found dead in a Fort Lauderdale home.

Ben Azivov

An 18-year-old victim found dead in a Fort Lauderdale home.

Olga Greinert

A 49-year-old victim found dead in Sarasota.

Florita Stolyar

A 66-year-old victim found dead in Sarasota.

Anatoly Ioffe

A 61-year-old victim found dead in Sarasota.

Yaroslav Blyudoy

A 39-year-old victim found dead in Sarasota.

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What they’re saying

“Yesterday morning, I was loading my tools, and I saw a guy running around here. He went to the driveway, hit the keypad, the door went up, I didn't think anything of it. Then I got a call about what had happened. I started tying everything together and said 'Man, I hope that wasn't the guy I saw.'”

— Mark Scinna, Neighbor (CBS News Miami)

“It is currently a shooting investigation. We have multiple persons involved. It appears all persons are accounted for, therefore being an isolated incident with no threat to the public.”

— Matt Binkley, Sarasota Sheriff's Office (Local News)

What’s next

Authorities are still investigating the connections between the victims and the suspected gunman's motives across the two crime scenes.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has left the local communities in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale shaken, raising concerns about public safety and the need for further understanding of the underlying factors that may have led to this senseless violence.