A beautician in New York City found herself at the center of a twisted plot involving robbery, identity theft, and attempted murder after accepting a few pieces of homemade cheesecake from one of her clients.
This shocking case, known as The Case of the Poison Cheesecake, is explored in detail in the upcoming episode of 48 Hours, airing exclusively on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ on April 27, 2024.
The unsuspecting beautician, Olga Tsvyk, fell ill after consuming the cheesecake and woke up in the hospital days later with no memory of what happened. It was later revealed that the client who offered her the cake was Viktoria Nasyrova, a Russian immigrant with a dark past.
Nasyrova had a history of robbery and murder back in Russia, where she was accused of killing a woman named Alla Alekseenko. The two had been friends, and Alekseenko had given Nasyrova cash and gifts to take to her daughter in New York City. However, when Alekseenko went missing, suspicion fell on Nasyrova.
Police in Russia issued a warrant for Nasyrova’s arrest, but she managed to flee the country and make her way to New York City. There, she continued her criminal activities, targeting unsuspecting victims like Olga Tsvyk.
After poisoning Tsvyk with a lethal sedative in the cheesecake, Nasyrova stole valuables from her apartment and even attempted to steal her identity. Fortunately, Tsvyk survived the ordeal, and a private investigator hired by the victim’s daughter was able to track down Nasyrova using social media photos and other evidence.
Nasyrova was eventually arrested and charged with attempted murder, among other crimes. After a lengthy legal battle, she was found guilty and sentenced to 21 years in prison. However, her troubles are far from over, as she faces deportation back to Russia to face additional murder charges.
As of April 2024, Nasyrova is incarcerated at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, where she has taken up art as a creative outlet. Despite her crimes, Nasyrova maintains that her artwork is a form of “little miracles” that bring joy to others.
