Girl who saw her dad killed to remain in foster care

The four-year-old girl who saw her father shot to death in a Forest Hills park will remain in foster care until charges of neglect against her mother are settled, a Queens Family Court judge ruled on November 9.
Michelle Malakov was with her father, Daniel Malakov, 34, in the Annadale Playground on Sunday, October 28 when he was shot three times in the chest. He had won custody of the girl from her mother, Mazoltuv Borukhova, just eight days earlier.
Malakov’s mother, Malka, has accused Borukhova of orchestrating the murder of the Ivy-League-educated dentist.
Following the incident, Michelle went to live with her father’s parents, but then was placed in foster care as her mother fought to regain custody.
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) filed a petition during the proceedings last week accusing Borukhova of neglect.
The judge ruled that Michelle undergo grief counseling and granted visitation rights to both Borukhova and Malakov’s parents.
Borukhova plans to appeal the family court’s decision.
Florence Bass, the lawyer representing Borukhova, did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment.
Last week police released a sketch of the person they believe to be the shooter. They describe the suspect as a white male, 48 to 53 years old, with gray hair, 5’ 8”, with a stocky build. At the time of the shooting he was wearing a dark jacket and dark pants. The NYPD is offering a $41,000 reward in the case.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.