The Burning Man attendee killed at the festival Saturday has been identified as a 37-year-old Russian national who had been reported missing.
Vadim Kruglov was discovered dead in a “pool of blood” right as the festival’s eponymous effigy was burned to the ground.
The Washoe Medical Examiner’s Office identified Kruglov by his fingerprints, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release obtained by SFGate.
A Burning Man festival attendee, Vadim Kruglov, has been reported missing. Instagram / @sofi.co__Kruglov’s family has been notified and investigators are still looking for information on the suspect, who is likely in the wind after the festival’s conclusion on Monday.
“Our hearts go out to Vadim’s family and friends and we grieve the loss of a community member,” Burning Man organizers said in a statement.
The Burning Man Project said it will do “everything we can to assist the Sheriff’s investigation so the perpetrator can be caught and brought to justice,” including making a “coordinated donation to the Secret Witness program, which offers rewards for more information that contributes to law enforcement’s investigation.”
Kruglov, who visited the US from the Siberian city of Omsk, arrived at Burning Man in Pershing County, Nevada, on Aug. 24, according to an Instagram post from his friend who reported him missing.
“He has not been in contact since. His tent and belongings were left at camp, but he never returned,” wrote Sofiia Shcherbakova, who attended Burning Man with Kruglov.
Kruglov, 37, was last seen on Aug. 29, according to a friend. Instagram / @sofi.co__
A friend launched an urgent appeal to find him. Instagram / @sofi.co__Pershing County Sheriff’s Office and Burning Man Festival organizers did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Burning Man attracts thousands of revelers to the Nevada desert. Siobhan McAndrew/RGJ / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesOfficials called on the public to help identify the deceased victim found on Saturday evening as strung-out Burners flocked to the festival’s infamous wooden effigy – “the Man” – and watched it go up in flames, per tradition.
“No information is too small to disregard,” Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen insisted as authorities struggled to make headway three days after the grisly murder.
Earlier that same day, police arrested a felon on gun and drug charges during a traffic stop on attendees leaving Burning Man in the latest chaotic incident at the festival.
