Sheffield Baby - Mother Charged
Five people were charged in the death of a newborn baby found in a Sheffield house with 33 stab wounds Screenshot from Twitter/Yapp @YappAppLtd

Four people have been charged with murder in relation to the death of a newborn baby who was found stabbed 33 times at a house in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on Sunday. South Yorkshire Police were careful with the release of information regarding the death of the infant as a 15-year-old minor was supposedly involved.

The baby's mother, 20-year-old Andrea Skopova, was among the four charged with murder. She was seen crying outside Sheffield Crown Court following her appearance after being charged.

Five Defendants

Also charged were Skopova's 19-year-old boyfriend, Peter Horvath, and his parents Peter Horvath Sr., 38, and Nina Horvath, 37. A fifth defendant could not be named for legal reasons as they were only 15 years old. It does not appear that Peter Jr. was the father of the newborn, who was given the identity of Baby S in court.

The South Yorkshire Police were careful with the release of information regarding the case. Early in the week, seven people were arrested, including the five defendants, but officers did not release the names or their relationship with the baby, who was found with 33 stab wounds all over the body, including her face and torso, front and back.

Two women, aged 26 and 37, were arrested on suspicion of Baby S' murder but are out on bail. They were not charged. The adult defendants were all charged with murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice by allegedly cleaning the scene of the crime.

The 15-year-old was charged with perverting the course of justice. They are all Slovakian nationals.

Police were called to respond to a safety concern of an infant at an address in Holywell Heights in the Wincobank area. Police found Baby S dumped on top of a washing machine, wrapped in a towel and a blue bag, inside an outbuilding.

'Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services, the baby girl was pronounced dead at the scene. A forensic post-mortem has since confirmed that she died as a result of stab wounds,' South Yorkshire Police said on social media.

Court Appearance

Security was tight during the defendants' court appearance. Seven security guards and other court staff flanked them and two Slovak interpreters assisted in the court proceedings.

Photo reportedly shows (from left) Peter Horvath Sr., Peter Horvath Jr., and Andrea Skopova.

According to reports, Skopova and the 15-year-old were sobbing almost the entirety of the proceedings. Dozens of family members witnessed the hearing; some of them were in tears.

Judge Sarah Wright set the trial date for 12 April 2027, with the trial expected to last six to seven weeks, but the defendants are expected to go back to court for a hearing on 2 October 2026. Meanwhile, they will all remain in custody.

'This is a significant step in our investigation into the tragic circumstances that resulted in the death of this baby girl,' said Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward. 'I would like to thank our communities, who I know will have been deeply impacted by this traumatic incident, for supporting us as we work through this intricate investigation.'

'We would ask the public to avoid speculating and posting information online about this case while the legal process takes its course. Protecting the integrity of the criminal justice process is crucial to us securing justice for this little girl,' Woodward also said.

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