Local man accused of slitting mom’s throat

A Battle Ground man appeared Friday in Clark County Superior Court to face allegations that he slit his mother’s throat with a butcher knife.

Judge Scott Collier held Vladimir Tkachuk, 36, in lieu of $200,000 bail and appointed Vancouver attorney Chuck Buckley Jr. to defend him. He is set to be arraigned April 8 on charges of second-degree attempted murder and third-degree assault.

Tkachuk’s mother, Dina Tkachuk, 54, received a 3- to 4-inch laceration on her neck and one on her cheek in the attack, according to court records. She was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center where she was in satisfactory condition Friday.

The defendant’s 15-year-old sister, Kristina Tkachuk, said she heard their mother scream about noon Thursday. She went into the kitchen and saw her mother lying on the floor bleeding. Vladimir Tkachuk was standing over her holding a knife, according to court records. Kristina Tkachuk said she took the knife away from him, and her finger was cut in the process. She then tried but failed to push him out of the house, she said. When she called 911, she said, Tkachuk grabbed a steak knife.

A neighbor, Nina Zabolotskaya, said she also heard screaming and knocked on the family’s door to see what was the matter. When the neighbor entered the house, Vladimir Tkachuk “completely changed,” Kristina Tkachuk said. He started saying, “Mama, forgive me, forgive me,” according to court records.

Buckley said Friday the defendant may have mental issues. Court records indicate that Tkachuk reported he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The mother said the attack was unprovoked, according to court records. She said that she was cooking eggs when Tkachuk came up to her and started cutting her without saying a word, court records say.

Battle Ground police responded to the residence in the 1400 block of Southwest Eighth Avenue and arrested Tkachuk.