World News
Investigation remains open one year after first recorded homicide at Burning Man
Authorities have made no arrests in the fatal stabbing of Vadim Kruglov as details emerge regarding his final hours at the 2025 festival.
The short version
- Vadim Kruglov, 37, was found stabbed to death in a tent during the 2025 Burning Man festival in Nevada.
- The killing marks the first known homicide in the festival's history, and no suspects have been arrested after a year of investigation.
- Investigators have recovered the weapon and several DNA profiles but have not established Kruglov's whereabouts for four hours prior to his discovery.
Key facts
- Vadim Kruglov was discovered with a fatal knife wound to his neck inside a tent at Burning Man on August 30, 2025, around 9:15 p.m.[Fox News]
- The Pershing County Sheriff's Office confirmed the incident is the first recorded homicide in the history of the desert festival.[Fox News]
- An autopsy revealed no defensive wounds, indicating the victim was unable to fight back against the attack.[Fox News]
- Investigators recovered the knife, which yielded multiple DNA profiles, as well as Kruglov's locked mobile phone.[Fox News]
- Kruglov received care at Rampart, the on-site festival medical facility, and was discharged around 5 p.m. on the day of his death.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The identities of the perpetrator and two men seen DJing with Kruglov in the early morning hours before his death remain unknown.[Fox News]
- Investigators have not accounted for Kruglov's whereabouts or activities between his 5 p.m. hospital release and when his body was discovered at 9:14 p.m.[Fox News]