Two Found Dead During Fort Lauderdale Well-Being Check; Suspect Identified, Located Deceased In Sarasota

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Fort Lauderdale Police Department homicide detectives are investigating after officers conducting a well-being check found two people dead inside a home in the city’s Flagler Village area, and investigators later identified a suspect who was found deceased in Sarasota County.

Police were called at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, to the 500 block of Northeast 15th Avenue for a well-being check. Officers arrived and discovered two adult victims inside the residence, both deceased. Homicide detectives took over the investigation.

The victims were identified as Larisa Blyudaya, born May 5, 1979, and Ben Azivov, born April 18, 2007. Police said both were residents of the City of Fort Lauderdale.

The suspect was identified as Russell Kot, born Aug. 5, 1974, also a Fort Lauderdale resident. Police said Kot was found deceased in Sarasota County.

As the case has progressed, Fort Lauderdale Police Department said it is now collaborating with counterparts at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office about a potential connection to an incident that occurred in Sarasota County’s jurisdiction.

Fort Lauderdale Police Department described the deaths as an isolated incident and said detectives do not believe there is any threat to the local public. The investigation remains ongoing and active.

With the suspect located deceased outside Broward County, responsibility for the Fort Lauderdale deaths remains with Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s homicide investigators, while Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency for any incident that occurred in Sarasota County, including the death investigation there. Fort Lauderdale Police Department directed anyone seeking details about the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office investigation to contact that agency’s public information officer.

For residents following the case, the key points remain narrow: the call began as a well-being check, two victims were found dead inside a home on Northeast 15th Avenue, and detectives say there is no continuing public threat tied to this incident. Beyond that, Fort Lauderdale Police Department said additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

This story may be updated as Fort Lauderdale Police Department releases more details about the homicide investigation or as Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office provides information about the related incident in its jurisdiction.