Gruesome new details have emerged about the murder of Russian national Vadim Kruglov, who was found dead last weekend at the Burning Man festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.
The 37-year-old, who was originally from Siberia but was living in Washington State, was found lying in a pool of blood on Saturday. Officials said a deputy was “flagged down by an event participant,” who alerted them to the grisly scene at around 9:15 p.m. local time.
Kruglov’s throat had been slashed and authorities recovered a knife at the scene, where a cellphone was also found near his body in a tent pavilion, sources told TMZ. Examining the phone could take weeks.
Prior to him being identified, Kruglov’s friend Sofiia Shcherbakova put out an “urgent” missing persons alert on Tuesday, saying she lost track of him at the festival and hadn’t heard from him in four days.
Kruglov’s identity was confirmed later that night by the Washoe Medical Examiner’s Office, who ruled his death a homicide, according to a Pershing County Sheriff’s Office press release.
His death, which officials said appeared to be the result of a “singular crime,” remains under investigation. Police have yet to identify a suspect.
Shcherbakova remembered Kruglov as someone who was “always ready to help others,” and was “kind and responsive to everyone.”
She said a GoFundMe had been established to help raise money to bring Kruglov back to his hometown of Omsk, “so that his parents can say their last goodbye and lay him to rest with his loved ones.”
Multiple violent crimes took place at this year’s Burning Man, billed as “a global cultural movement advancing a more creative, connected and thriving society.”
A Southern California man was arrested Tuesday on rape and burglary charges after a Burning Man attendee said she was sexually assaulted during the event. Another festivalgoer, a convicted felon, was arrested after he was found to be carrying firearms and “large quantities” of drugs.
A separate attendee said her husband had to be airlifted from Black Rock City after he was run over by a Tesla Cybertruck “art car.” However, that incident was described as a “genuine accident.”
Anyone with information about Kruglov’s case is asked to contact Investigator Josh Nicholson at (775) 273-2641 or jnicholson@pershingcountynv.gov.
