Newborn baby girl whose dead body was found on top of washing machine is named as inquest hears of 33 wounds from 15 stabbings while mother faces murder trial

By ED HOLT 15:35 01 Oct 2026, updated 18:32 01 Oct 2026

A dead newborn baby girl who was found on top of a washing machine with 33 wounds has been named at the formal opening of her inquest – while her mother is due to stand trial for her murder.

Maria Skopova – previously referred to as Baby S in court – died on the day of her birth in Holywell Heights, in the Wincobank area of Sheffield on the morning of August 30.

The baby had suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings and was found wrapped in a towel and blue bag and then dumped on a washing machine in an outhouse.

Her mother, 20-year-old Slovak-national Andrea Skopova, and three other defendants are due to stand trial in April, accused of murdering Maria.

Senior coroner Tanyka Rawden told Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre that she was adjourning the inquest into Maria’s death until March 25 while there were ongoing criminal proceedings.

She said: ‘On that date, I will review the evidence we have gathered so far.’

Skopova, along with Peter Horvath Jr, 19, Peter Horvath Sr, 38, and Nina Horvathova, 37, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court last month charged with Maria’s murder.

A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, also appeared in court charged with perverting the course of justice.

The adults, all Slovakian nationals, were remanded in custody until a hearing on Friday. The girl was remanded in youth custody.

Horvath Jr, Horvath Sr and Horvathova, all of Holywell Heights, and Skopova, of Robey Street in Grimesthorpe, are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, and perverting the course of justice by cleaning the scene of the alleged crime.

A trial lasting up to seven weeks is expected to take place from April 12.

The court was previously told that Maria had been found on top of a washing machine in an outhouse at the property.

Prosecutor Luke Hopkinson said the mother of Maria is Skopova but the father is not known.

‘A female baby known as S was born in the early hours of Sunday 30 August at an address in Holywell Heights,’ Mr Hopkinson told the court at a previous hearing.

He said that Skopova gave birth to the baby at 37 weeks and shortly afterwards presented at hospital.

Hospital staff were ‘confident’ the baby was not in the womb, the court heard. Medical staff alerted the police shortly after 5am. Police went to the address and could not find the child so later checked the address in Holywell Heights.

Mr Hopkinson said: ‘When attending, police located a baby wrapped in towelling and in a blue bag on top of a washing machine in an outhouse. The baby was deceased.

‘The baby has catastrophically been injured by a knife. She has 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings.’

The coroner said: ‘Emergency services were called, paramedics attended and they sadly pronounced Maria deceased.

‘She was identified after death by means of police inquiries.’

The coroner also said she was ‘still making inquiries into her death’ and that when the inquest resumed in March, she would ‘make a formal decision as to how the inquest will proceed at that point’.

Satanist killer Christa Pike started ‘snoring loudly’ after surviving two lethal injections in…

Satanist killer asked ‘is this normal?’ while surviving ‘worst botched execution in modern era’ that…

Heavily pregnant homeless woman is ‘refused emergency accommodation by council’ which houses more…

Omani hijacker who stabbed fellow pilot ‘was a religious extremist who refused to shake hands with…

Moment preacher at London mosque encourages worshippers to beat their wives if they refuse to obey…

Hijack hero who pulled jet out of death plunge learned how to fly by watching plane documentary and…

DANIEL HANNAN: Spoiler alert! Britain will NOT rejoin the EU. Here are some of the many reasons…

Meghan launches $148 advent calendar in first commercial venture since moving to UK and reveals she…

I’m going to steal again: The proud declaration of one of 700 prisoners released early under…

Man who raped women and girls to ‘teach them a lesson for being out late at night’ wins move to open…

‘Student’ riots rock France as masked men torch schools and douse teachers in petrol

Junkyard statue that builder snapped up for £300 could sell for a massive £100,000

Female teacher who tied young private school pupil to bed and blindfolded him for sex is jailed for…

Don’t call us ‘nutters’, say Greens as ‘inclusive terminology guidance’ that includes banning…

Newborn baby girl whose dead body was found on top of washing machine is named as inquest hears of…

Kemi to stop school leavers going straight on the dole: As Burnham lurches further Left – and talks…