Rumor mill wrong on Gainov suicide

Reports of Dr. Iain Gainov’s death appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Last week, C-VILLE received a mysterious letter alleging that Gainov, the local pediatrician convicted last fall on one count of felony child abuse and neglect for incidents involving his baby girl, had committed suicide at the Mecklenburg Correctional Center, where he is currently doing time. Hot on the rumor trail, C-VILLE immediately contacted Mecklenburg, whose rep said, “I can’t talk about that,” and immediately referred C-VILLE to the Department of Corrections in Richmond. Richmond, in turn, insisted that they had no record of a “Gainov,” and further said that, even if they did, they couldn’t comment on an ongoing investigation.

Finally, a call to the Albemarle Commonwealth Attorney’s office shed some light on the situation. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Cynthia Murray, who had prosecuted the case against Gainov back in November, acknowledged that she, too, had heard the rumor.

“It’s so weird!” She exclaimed, adding that the report appeared unfounded. After hearing the news, and being understandably alarmed by it, she had called Mecklenburg, and been assured by the people in charge that Gainov is still very much alive.—Nell Boeschenstein