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 Linda Thomas
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Julia.jpg
Though she has avoided the public eye and police questions for over a year following the disappearance of her son Sky, Julia Biryukova has qualified for taxpayer-supported housing assistance in a secure, high-rent Redmond complex. (File photo)

Exclusive: Taxpayers support the mother of a missing Bellevue toddler

November 20, 2012 @ 11:41 am (Updated: 4:10 pm - 11/20/12 )

Taxpayers are supporting the mother of a toddler who mysteriously disappeared in Bellevue over a year ago.

Julia Biryukova told police her car ran out of gas in the 2600 block of 112th Ave. N.E. in Bellevue. She left her sleeping son Sky Metalwala, who was two years old, alone in the unlocked car. She then walked to a gas station with her daughter to get help. When they returned to the car, he was gone.

After she reported Sky missing, November 6, 2011, she talked with police investigators for 10 hours.

"Do we know more today than we did yesterday about what happened to him? I would say no we don't, Bellevue Police Major Mike Johnson said days after Sky disappeared.

Over a year later, they don't know what happened to the little boy.

Johnson hinted last year there could be a criminal investigation coming.

"We're not comfortable calling her a person of interest or a suspect. There's a lot of work going on," Johnson said. "At some point it would not be unlikely this would become a criminal investigation, however, we're not yet there."

They're still "not yet there."

Police tell me Biryukova was not charged with neglect or any other minor crime related to Sky's disappearance because there could still be more serious charges to come.

Meanwhile, Biryukova has qualified for housing assistance according to a tip to The Ron and Don Show which I've verified. She's receiving free rent at a high end, secure apartment building in Redmond.

That angers Clay Terry, an attorney for Sky's father Solomon Metalwala.

"Julia just doesn't want to work. I'm convinced of that. I was convinced of it when I was representing Mr. Metalwala. All she counted on was wanting more child support, more personal maintenance," Terry says.

"She did not want to do any work on her own, claiming that she had to take care of the children. That may have been a very legitimate reason, because that is a full-time job, but when she got out of the responsibility of taking care of the children, suddenly she's incapable of working and taxpayers have to support her."

As recently as November 1, 2012 Biryukova lists "child support" as her only income, in documents I've obtained.

Solomon Metalwala has custody of the couple's daughter Maile, and he has not paid child support since November of 2011.

She did not pay income taxes for 2011 and signed a statement (dated 11-01-2012) that she is not employed.

Terry says beyond the money taxpayers are spending to support Birykova, they are also paying for a police investigation that seems futile.

"That story about the child being kidnapped is a phony, it's a fake, it never existed, it never happened, it's an outright lie," says Terry. "Everyone connected with this case as far as I know believes it's a lie, even though they've had to spend thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars investigating it because of the remote possibility that it might have been true."

"We know in our hearts, Solomon and I know in our hearts, that Julia knows exactly what happened to Sky, but because she won't say anything enormous amounts of money are going into efforts to try to find the child or to look for some clues. I'm sure it's into the millions of dollars by now."

On TV shows like CSI and Law and Order, police have ways to pressure people in to talking. The Bellevue PD says it doesn't work that way in the real world. They would like to speak with Biryukova, but she doesn't have to talk.

Terry doesn't think anything will compel Birykova to give police more information about Sky's disappearance.

"She has the right under the United States and Washington Constitution not to testify, not to say anything to the police," says Terry. "She has retained an attorney and he has given her advice not to talk. There is nothing anyone can do to make her talk."

Her attorney also did not return calls to talk about this story.

Sky's father and sister are now approaching a second Thanksgiving without him.

"Do I want to believe that he's dead? What proof do I have?" says Solomon Metalwala

There's no proof his little boy is dead, so Metalwala chooses to believe Sky will come home.

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (44)


  • Add A Comment

  • mnpat wrote...
    Physically capable but on the government dollar
    November 20, 2012 3:28 pm
    Very sad state of affairs. Should also be paying child support but because of her gender I guess she doesn't have to.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    The perfect example
    November 20, 2012 8:57 pm
    Of the Liberal nanny state. You've come along way baby! Aren't you liberal women proud of yourselves? Here's your next poster girl. Kill your child and the Government will cover for you and pay you for it. Bravo Liberals!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ten4goodbuddy wrote...
    broken record
    November 21, 2012 11:39 am
    Different article, same response from maplefish. You are a one trick pony, get some new material. Also, you could do yourself some good to spend some time reviewing how logic actually works, it would serve your arguments well.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Deep, ten 4
    November 22, 2012 10:39 am
    I musta stuck a nerve? Truth hurts don't it....?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DebR wrote...
    This is so so wrong on so many levels
    November 20, 2012 3:50 pm
    Why in the world has she not been forced to tell what she knows. doesn't every other criminal have to tell something or have proof of wrong doing? Government assistance? Are you kidding me?? Unbelievable. She out to be put in jail until she's she wants to talk. I would also bet that she's getting help from abroad from her home country and I wouldn't be surprised if Sky was over there too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    Why wasn't she invited to speak at the Democrat Convention?...
    November 20, 2012 4:04 pm
    She could teach Sandra Fluke a thing or two.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hectic wrote...
    If I were her ex husband
    November 20, 2012 4:55 pm
    I would spend a few bucks down in Chinatown and hire someone who is capable of making her talk. It's obvious she knows where the kid is, and I guarantee she would squeal like a pig with the proper persuasion.

    Oh, and to the idiots on here still crying about Obama winning the election...get over it! You are now the minority, and the rest of us are tired of hearing you whine. Instead of crying about it, I suggest you spend your time looking for a 2016 candidate, as it's going to take a pretty impressive person to beat Hilary Clinton.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    thanks for answering my question and making a story out of it!
    November 20, 2012 5:45 pm
    http://redmond.patch.com/articles/supporters-mark-anniversary-of-sky-metalwala-disappearance-with-prayer-and-song#photo-12117527
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sahuaro87 wrote...
    Washington State
    November 20, 2012 5:58 pm
    This happens everyday in this state. I've never seen anything quite like it. Her case is obviously not typical, but this state does not follow up or do they hold anyone accountable for their handouts. I work everyday trying to recruit individuals for gainful employment and regularly hear that they can't work over 20 hours a week or they will "lose" their free housing. This is not the apartment communities issue. They are simply fulfilling their requirements set by the state. You should have a picture of DSHS as your cover photo.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mike in Pioneer Square wrote...
    This Is Stupid
    November 20, 2012 7:49 pm
    I'm completely unsurprised that this person can't find work. Given the media frenzy, who would hire her? To do what? "News" stories like this only inflame idiots to go on a witch hunt. Even the police don't have evidence to convict this woman, and yet blowhards in the media and the general public act as if they've solved a crime. The entire thing is stupid. Talk to me when there is proof that a crime was committed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kato1967 wrote...
    no thanks
    November 21, 2012 7:13 am
    I'd rather not talk to you at anytime. Now get back to panhandling on your corner there in pioneer square.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dsbab wrote...
    Guilty Party
    November 21, 2012 5:27 am
    It's George Bush's fault
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    why can't she work and support herself?
    November 21, 2012 5:49 am
    why are we paying to support her?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RoPo wrote...
    We are supporting 50% of America
    November 21, 2012 6:22 am
    Why should she be left out. It would be discriminatory! Come on people this is what you voted for.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jstumbo wrote...
    On what basis is she getting tax dollars?
    November 21, 2012 6:31 am
    You cant just be an adult and not work and have the state pay for you. Is there some reason why she cannot work? It is not like she is getting welfare or section 8 because there are no children involved. If she wants free housing, don't we have a nice women's prison we could put her in?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kato1967 wrote...
    don't you already know the answer?
    November 21, 2012 7:15 am
    My guess is she registered to vote at the time she signed up for welfare. Not a citizen? Not a problem (as long as you vote Democrat)!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hectic wrote...
    jstumbo
    November 21, 2012 7:26 am
    You don't need children to get welfare or section 8, there are plenty of single people receiving both. You just need to prove you have poverty level income (or no income). Or if you have a disability, physical or mental, which she may have, but we don't know because this article was too vague.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }