Podcast Summary

Podcast: Snapped: Women Who Murder
Episode: Rita Gluzman
Host: Oxygen
Date: February 22, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores the chilling case of Rita Gluzman, a highly educated immigrant who masterminded the murder and dismemberment of her husband, Dr. Yakov Glusman. Blending elements of true crime, psychological analysis, and investigative reporting, the episode traces the couple’s harrowing journey from surviving Soviet persecution to a gruesome end in New Jersey. The narrative unravels a tangled web of marital strife, jealousy, greed, and betrayal, culminating in a landmark federal prosecution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovery of the Crime (00:01-05:11)

• Crime Scene: On Easter Sunday, April 7, 1996, police in East Rutherford, NJ, uncover a series of garbage bags filled with approximately 65 human body parts along the banks of the Passaic River.
  • “We’re talking about large hefty bags filled with body parts. Roughly 65 pieces.” — Investigator/Detective [00:07]
  • The scene shocks even experienced officers.
• The Initial Suspect: Officer Freeman discovers Vladimir Zelenin near the river, acting suspiciously with blood on his shoe and latex gloves.
  • “I opened one of the bags in the trunk... I see what I perceive to be human intestine. I was like, whoa!” — Officer Richard Freeman [02:36]

2. Victim and Perpetrator Backgrounds (06:35-11:08)

• Yakov Glusman: Renowned Ukrainian-born cancer researcher.
• Rita Glusman: His wife, also a scientist, who orchestrated their emigration from the Soviet Union to Israel, then the U.S.
  • Their struggle against Soviet oppression is highlighted, alongside their eventual success in America.

3. Unraveling the Motive (11:35-17:13)

• Divorce and Business Interests: The pending divorce is contentious, with Rita fearful it would destroy her financially and personally.
  • “She wanted that company to be signed over to her. She wanted complete control.” — Investigator/Detective [31:47]
• Co-Conspirator’s Role: Vladimir Zelenin, Rita's cousin, reveals under interrogation that Rita coerced him into helping murder Yakov by threatening his immigration status.
  • “Rita had been threatening... she was gonna go to the authorities and tell them that his political asylum application was falsified.” — Prosecutor [17:13]

4. The Crime Itself (17:42-21:19)

• The Murder: Vladimir and Rita ambushed Yakov with axes and knives as he arrived home late. Rita is depicted as unrelenting in the attack.
  • “Rita was furiously hitting him with the hatchet at the top of his head.” — Prosecutor [18:46]
• Aftermath: Rita sanitized the apartment while Vladimir dismembered the body to prevent identification.
  • “He was trying to cut up the body into such small pieces that it couldn’t be identified.” — Prosecutor [20:00]

5. Evidence and Investigation (22:13-29:57)

• Search for Rita: Rita flees and evades police, leaving a trail of evidence and further confirming her role as the mastermind.
  • Surveillance footage and witnesses place her at relevant locations; items linked to the crime are found at her home.
  • “She was not a victim. She basically flew the coupe.” — Forensic Investigator/Medical Examiner [29:57]

6. Deeper Motives and Manipulation (30:14-35:38)

• Financial Control: Rita had leveraged her company to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
  • “She was spending upwards of $20,000 a month.” — Prosecutor [32:10]
• Infidelity and Revenge: Yakov’s affair with a younger woman in Israel becomes the source of Rita’s fury.
  • Rita hires private investigators to gather evidence, attempts blackmail, and even contemplates outlandish sabotage.
  • “If she couldn't have Yakov, nobody could.” — Prosecutor [33:36]

7. Arrest and Prosecution (36:18-40:00)

• Rita’s Arrest: Located hiding at a scientist’s cabin, she prepares to flee the country using fake IDs and hair dye.
• Landmark Legal Case: Rita is charged under a new provision of the Violence Against Women Act for interstate spousal abuse resulting in death—the first case of its kind.
  • “It was decided that... Rita [would be charged] under the Violence Against Women Act, which made it a federal crime to cross state lines and abuse a spouse, resulting in death.” — Detective [38:33]

8. Verdict and Aftermath (40:21-42:39)

• Trial Outcome: Rita is found guilty on all charges and receives life without parole. Vladimir Zelenin, having cooperated, receives 22.5 years.
  • “Rita Glusman was found guilty of all the charges...” — Defense Attorney or Legal Analyst [40:52]
• Compassionate Release: Rita is released in 2020 for health reasons, stirring controversy among investigators and prosecutors.
  • “She was given a compassionate release, which I find pretty ironic because she snuffed her husband’s life out.” — Investigator/Detective [42:09]
• Yakov’s Legacy: Colleagues and friends reflect on Yakov’s brilliance and gentle spirit.
  • “He will always be remembered here... as a fantastic person, as an amazing intellect, as a gentle giant.” — Colleague of Yakov Glusman [42:39]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re talking about large hefty bags filled with body parts. Roughly 65 pieces.” — Investigator/Detective [00:07]
• “If she couldn’t have him, nobody could.” — Prosecutor [01:10]
• “She was not a victim. She basically flew the coupe.” — Forensic Investigator/Medical Examiner [29:57]
• “Rita snapped because she was going to lose everything. She was going to lose her kingdom.” — Investigator/Detective [39:53]
• “There’s a very consistent theme that she’s very controlling, very manipulative, and very vindictive.” — Defense Attorney or Legal Analyst [40:08]
• “She was given a compassionate release, which I find pretty ironic because she snuffed her husband’s life out.” — Investigator/Detective [42:09]
• “He will always be remembered... as a gentle giant. That’s the way I remember him.” — Colleague of Yakov Glusman [42:39]

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:01-05:11 | Officers discover the crime scene and take Vladimir Zelenin into custody. | | 06:35-11:08 | Background on Yakov and Rita’s life & achievements. | | 17:42-21:19 | Vladimir’s confession details the brutal murder and dismemberment. | | 22:13-29:57 | Police search for Rita, gather evidence, and validate Vladimir’s story. | | 30:14-35:38 | Financial and romantic motivations are explored in depth. | | 36:18-37:31 | Rita is found hiding and arrested. | | 38:33-39:53 | Rita is charged under Violence Against Women Act. | | 40:52-41:00 | The trial verdict and sentencing. | | 41:44-42:17 | Rita’s controversial compassionate release and investigators’ reactions. | | 42:39 | Tribute to Yakov Glusman’s character and legacy. |

Tone & Style

The episode blends empathetic narration and matter-of-fact interviews with law enforcement, legal analysts, and those who knew the victim. The language remains accessible but is punctuated with graphic, unsettling details that drive home the horror and complexity of the case.

Closing Reflection

This episode of "Snapped: Women Who Murder" masterfully details both the horror of the crime and the tangled, deeply human motives behind it. The landmark legal prosecution and the enduring memory of Dr. Yakov Glusman offer sobering conclusions about justice, grief, and the unpredictable extremes of the human heart.