'Free Pussy Riot' Scrawled Next to Murdered Women

The bodies of two murdered women were found beneath a scrawled message demanding freedom for jailed members of Pussy Riot, Russian officials said today. The women, aged 76 and 38, were killed late last week in their apartment in the central city of Kazan with the words "Free Pussy Riot" written on the wall, "presumably" with blood. An investigator cautioned that the killer was possibly trying to mislead police by drawing attention to supporters of the punk provocateurs.

Investigators did not provide the women's names and did not reveal details about their occupations or whether they had any connection to the band. A Russian tabloid quoted an unnamed investigator as saying that the bodies were disfigured by multiple stab wounds. The jailed band members' attorney said on Twitter that "what happened in Kazan is horrible," calling the case "either a horrendous provocation or a psychopathic" case. (More Pussy Riot stories.)