A lawyer for the parents of Max Shatto, the Russian adoptee whose death last month in the U.S. state of Texas provoked outrage in Moscow, says his clients did not kill their child.
Speaking to the local “Odessa American” newspaper, attorney Michael J. Brown said, “There’s no evidence whatsoever that I can see that would indicate that either of the Shattos killed their child.”
Brown also said the Shattos have been receiving phone calls calling them “baby killers.”
He described the situation as a “nightmare” for the family.
Three-year-old Max Shatto, born Maksim Kuzmin, died on January 21 in uncertain circumstances.
Russian authorities have accused his mother, Laura, of killing him and have used the case as justification for Moscow’s recent ban on U.S. adoptions.
Texas authorities say an investigation is ongoing.
No criminal charges have yet been filed.