Cops searching for the killer of a Queens orthodontist released a sketch of the suspect yesterday as the victim’s former mother-in-law was accused of threatening to kill him just days before he was shot to death in front of his 4-year-old daughter.
Daniel Malakov was shot in the chest on a Forest Hills street on Oct. 28 by a gunman who used a crude silencer to muffle the .38-caliber revolver.
After interviews with witnesses, cops said the stocky gunman stands about 5-foot-8, sports salt-and-pepper hair and was last seen wearing a black jacket and black pants. A reward of $41,000 has been offered for information leading to his capture and conviction.
Police said the gunman used a makeshift silencer, a bleach bottle wrapped in duct tape.
Malakov, who days earlier had won a bitter custody battle, was planning to meet his ex-wife, Mazoltuv Borukhova, at a Queens playground so she could visit with their daughter.
The visit was interrupted by the brazen, broad-daylight attack.
The murder not only left young Michelle Malakov without a father, but it thrust her back in the middle of another custody battle – this one between her father’s grieving parents and the woman they accuse of hiring a hit man to kill their son. Malakov’s relatives have made no secret that they blame Borukhova for her ex-husband’s death. At Malakov’s funeral, the victim’s wailing mother blurted without hesitation that “she ordered him killed.”
Malakov’s family tried to support that allegation in court yesterday with dramatic testimony about Borukhova’s kin.
According to the victim’s brother, Gabriel Malakov, Daniel was threatened by the family just days before he was murdered.
Gabriel said the threat took place outside Daniel’s home during a custody transfer. Borukhova was supposed to bring her daughter and turn her over to Malakov, but she brought the rest of her family as well.
There, Borukhova’s mother cursed her in-laws.
“You will pay for it,” the woman said, according to Gabriel. “You will all pay for it.”
Then she turned to Daniel’s father. “Your kids will die. You will bury all your kids.”
Six days later, Daniel was dead.
Borukhova, at a temporary-custody hearing yesterday, denied any threat was made.
After the murder, Michelle was placed in the custody of the victim’s parents until Borukhova accused them of abusing the child.
A judge is expected to decide today who gets permanent custody of Michelle.
Additional reporting by Philip Messing