A mum is being probed for murder after her newborn baby died after allegedly being put in a washing machine.

The woman, named by officers only as 31-year-old Nadezhda Z, gave birth to the tot – her fourth child – prematurely over the weekend, according to local media.

And reports say her husband Denis found his wife covered in blood moments later and called for an ambulance.

Police in Talitsa, Sverdlovsk, Russia, have since confirmed the baby was put in a washing machine.

Nadezhda claimed the child was stillborn. She has been treated for injuries.

Her friends were shocked to discover the gruesome allegations today.

Nadezhda is described by friends as a “good mother” who is well known in her town as a popular hairdresser.

She has a son by a previous marriage, and two daughters from her current husband.

Elena Firtseva, a friend of Nadezhda, told to Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper:

“Nadezhda is hardworking and caring mother.

“This would have been her fourth child.

“There was no reason to kill the baby and in such a cruel way.

“She told me that the child was born prematurely and was stillborn.”

Another friend told local newspaper E1:

“I saw her recently when she was pregnant.

“Maybe the family had some quarrels, but this was not visible.

“I would never think she could do this.”

Mirror