46-Year-Old Man Murdered and Burned: Suspect Arrested

The Law Enforcement Committee of Armenia's Lori region has revealed the circumstances surrounding the murder of Arsen Sardarayan, a resident of Yerevan, who was reported missing. A 30-year-old resident of Alaverdi has been arrested on suspicion of the murder. This information was provided by the Department of Information and Public Relations at the Armenian Investigative Committee.

On April 5, 2019, a resident of Yerevan reported to the Malatia division of Yerevan police that on April 4, around 4:30 PM, his brother, Arsen Sardarayan, born in 1973, had left for Spitak city in his ‘Mercedes’ car and had gone missing. Materials were prepared on the incident.

As a result of extensive operational and investigative measures, the aforementioned ‘Mercedes’ was discovered. It was determined that the person driving the vehicle, a resident of Alaverdi born in 1989, had traveled with Arsen Sardarayan on the day of his disappearance.

Information was obtained indicating that around 8:30 PM on that day, the 30-year-old resident of Alaverdi had argued with Arsen Sardarayan, during which he inflicted stab wounds to Arsen's head with a sharp object, causing injuries incompatible with life. Subsequently, in an effort to conceal the crime, he transported the body in the same vehicle to an abandoned area in the administrative territory of Alaverdi and set it on fire. Afterward, he moved the burned body to a field near the village of Akhori in Lori province, burying it under soil and leaves.

A criminal case was initiated at the Lori regional investigative department of the Armenian Investigative Committee on April 7, 2019, under Article 104, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.

On April 7, 2019, the 30-year-old resident of Alaverdi was arrested and provided testimony about the incident, also revealing the location of the body.

To clarify significant circumstances regarding the criminal case, forensic examinations, trace evidence analyses, and biological examinations of the remains have been ordered.

The investigation is ongoing.