The butchered remains of a missing mum have finally been recovered after her ex-husband spread her body parts in an attempt to evade capture.
The partial remains of Nina Behzadi were found on a riverbank back in June, but investigators were initially unable to confirm her identity.
From the horrific scene, witnesses had reportedly suspected the 41-year-old victim had drowned and her body had been torn apart by scavenging animals.
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Police in Iran’s Gilan province deployed diving teams to recover additional remains from the river in Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh, but none could be found.
At the same time, a missing persons report was filed for Nina before police and loved ones entered her property to find a horrific scene, with bloodstains and furniture in disarray.
Evidence suggested that hasty attempts had been made to clean the property after the murder.
Launching an investigation, cops scoured phone records of those closest to Nina, and checked CCTV footage of the local area.
Two days later, the ex-husband, who has not been identified, was taken into custody, where he denied all knowledge of her whereabouts.
Months later forensic teams confirmed Nina’s identity through DNA testing and he confessed to investigators what he had done.
The ex-husband, who has not been identified, is also said to have confessed to relatives.
He allegedly told them how he murdered the mother of his child, dismembered her body and then spread it around in bits to prevent her being identified easily.
The suspect is said to have killed her over “prior disputes”, but relatives alleged financial gain as the motive.
Nina, who was successful and financially independent in her own right, had left everything in her will to their teenage son, Artin.
Relatives say the suspect had allegedly planned to gain control over her assets through him.
The suspect remains in custody ahead of a trial in Iran’s criminal court.
In 2025, Stop Femicide Iran documented at least 187 cases of women being killed in the country, which equates to more than 15 women per month.
The majority of the murders are committed by a close male family member or partner.
The charity noted the cases “show a pattern” with many women killed for asking for divorce or “daring to disagree with male kin”.
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