PUNTA GORDA -- A man accused of murdering his wife lost his parental rights to the daughter he had with the victim, and she and his stepson may move to Russia with their new guardian, the victim's mother.
At the Charlotte County Justice Center Thursday morning, 20th Circuit Judge Donald E. Pellecchia granted a petition to terminate the parental rights of Scott Huss, 49, who is charged with the second-degree murder of his wife, Yana Huss, 31, at her Port Charlotte home in April. Scott and Yana had a 2-year-old daughter, Katrina, and Yana had an 8-year-old son, Peter Shalin, from a previous marriage in Russia.
Pellecchia appointed Yana's mother, Elena Kuchinskaya, the guardian of both children. Kuchinskaya is a Russian citizen temporarily residing in the United States and caring for the children, according to testimony by Department of Children and Families officials, but her visa was due to expire on Oct. 26, at which point she will be required to leave the country. DCF officials could not formally recommend the children be placed with her because a home study could not be conducted in St. Petersburg, Russia, as per agency rules.
Huss signed a document terminating his parental rights at the Charlotte County Jail on Sept. 14. According to court records, Yana's murder followed a long history of domestic disputes between the pair; at the time of the homicide, Yana was trying to divorce Scott.
"To not accept this voluntary termination would move (the children) back," testified Frank Harder, the guardian ad litem for the children.
Harder said Peter was initially concerned about the possibility of moving to Russia to live with his mother's relatives, believing it may be too cold for him. However, Harder said the boy, who allegedly witnessed his mother's stabbing, had changed his mind and was eager to move.
"Anything we could do to make that happen, we would do," Harder said.
DCF officials said home studies had also been conducted with members of Scott's family.
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