Nearly three weeks after the Burning Man murder of 37-year-old Russian attendee Vadim Kruglov, Nevada officials say they have located a knife believed to be the weapon used in the killing. The discovery was confirmed Wednesday by the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office.
Victim identified as first-time attendee
Kruglov was found dead in a pool of blood at the desert festival on August 30 at approximately 9:14 p.m. Authorities arriving at the scene described him as “a single white adult male lying on the ground, obviously deceased.”
On September 3, investigators formally identified Kruglov and notified his family in Russia. Friends said this was his first time attending Burning Man.
“We want Vadim to be remembered as the talented, bright, and inspiring human being that he was,” his friend Sofia said in a statement released by Burning Man organizers.
Reward offered as investigation continues
Burning Man organizers confirmed they are cooperating with law enforcement and, in partnership with Secret Witness of Northern Nevada, are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Sheriff Jerry Allen noted earlier this month that the remote location of Black Rock City complicates the investigation. With little to no cellphone service and the city dismantled after the event, investigators lack the typical video or surveillance evidence available in urban cases.
Additional arrests at Burning Man 2025
Alongside the homicide case, authorities reported 44 arrests at this year’s event. Charges ranged from controlled substance possession and assault with a deadly weapon to domestic battery, sexual assault, and burglary.
