A tragic and disturbing case out of Binningen is drawing renewed attention as court proceedings move forward. Authorities allege that Marc Rieben, 41, killed his wife, Kristina Joksimov, in February 2022 after a heated argument about divorce, child custody, and finances.
According to prosecutors, the couple’s dispute escalated inside their home. They had been facing serious tension over their separation and the future of their two daughters. During the argument, Rieben allegedly became violent. Investigators say he grabbed Joksimov by the throat and threw her against a wall. He is also accused of strangling her with what has been described as a ribbon-like object.
The case becomes even more shocking after that point. Police say Rieben allegedly dismembered Joksimov’s body using tools found at the home. Her remains were later discovered the same day.
At one point, he “’carefully removed” her womb — the sole organ ripped from her torso — in what medical experts called a “deliberate mutilation or ritualized degradation of the body.”
Several of her body parts were cut up with an industrial blender, “pureed” and dissolved in a chemical solution, officials confirmed.
Rieben was watching YouTube videos on his phone while he dismembered the model and “pureed” her limbs in the industrial blender, according to court documents.
Her father found her body in a black bag in her laundry room.
“Rieben kept insisting he didn’t know where Kristina was and claimed she would just leave sometimes,” a close family friend of the couple told the Daily Mail.
“When [Joksimov’s father] opened the black bin bag, he saw her cut off head with the hair still attached,” the source said.
Cases like this highlight the dangers of domestic violence and how quickly situations can escalate. What begins as an argument can turn into something irreversible.
For now, the focus remains on the judicial process and on remembering the victim. A life was lost, and two children were left without their mother. That reality sits at the center of this case.
As the court proceedings begin, many will be watching closely, not out of curiosity, but in hope that justice is served and that some measure of accountability is reached.
