She Was Walking to School. Her Former Stepfather Was Waiting to Kill Her.

The kidnapping and murder of 17-year-old Daria Popova exposed a convicted killer’s violent past — and the warnings that failed to save her.

On the morning of October 30, 2024, 17-year-old Daria Popova left home for what should have been another ordinary school day in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

She was an 11th-grade student at School-Gymnasium №6. Like countless teenagers that morning, she was simply making her way to class.

But someone was waiting for her.

A man in a dark BMW X5 had positioned himself along her route. He knew who she was, where she was going, and when she would be there.

Surveillance footage would later capture the terrifying moment when the man approached Daria, chased her as she tried to escape, and forced her into his vehicle.

A passerby witnessed the kidnapping and rushed to intervene. He stood in front of the car, placing his hands on the hood in an attempt to stop the driver.

It didn’t work.

The vehicle pulled away, taking Daria with it.

The man behind the kidnapping was 52-year-old Evgeny Bertram.