The search for 11-year-old Natalia Asenova from the Varna village of Konstantinovo continued for a third day as her mother described the terrifying events that, she says, led to the girl's abduction by her former partner, 40-year-old Asen Simeonov.
Speaking through tears, Natalia's mother, Dora Petrova, said Simeonov broke into their home during the early hours of June 30 while they were asleep. According to her, he violently attacked her before forcing the child to leave with him.
“He tied my hands and feet, beat me with part of an armchair, and made the child get dressed. He said that if she didn't go with him, he would kill me,” Petrova said. She suffered a broken arm during the assault and is now wearing a cast.
According to the mother, Natalia made the decision to leave only because she feared for her life.
“The child hugged me and said, ‘Mom, I'll go with him. Don't worry, nothing will happen to me.’ Then they left, and he locked the door from the outside,” Petrova recalled.
