American Citizen Kills 24-Year-Old Woman in Armenia and Hides Her Naked Body in Dilijan Forest: Details from the Investigative Committee

An American citizen has killed a 24-year-old Russian woman in Armenia and hid her naked body in the Dilijan forest, according to the Investigative Committee.

On June 6, 2023, at 14:30, the mother of the victim, a Russian citizen named Elena Sergeeva born in 1999, reported to the Armenian Police that her daughter had arrived in Armenia from Moscow on June 4 via a flight and had met with a man, after which she had not been heard from.

A criminal investigation has been launched under Article 155, Part 1 of the Armenian Criminal Code. The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Dilijan Investigative Division of the Tavush Regional Investigative Department.

As a result of operational-search and investigative measures, on June 15, 2023, at approximately 13:55, the body of Elena Sergeeva was found in a partially mutilated and naked state in a forested area of the 2nd turn of the Dilijan-Yerevan highway. External examination revealed signs of bleeding on the body. Recognition of the body was conducted with the participation of the mother, and a decision was made to recognize her as a victim in this case.

A forensic examination of the body has been ordered. Preliminary investigation suggests that Elena Sergeeva's death was due to cranio-cerebral trauma. Various pieces of clothing belonging to her and the male suspect were found in different locations along the Sevan-Dilijan-Vanadzor road, exhibiting traces of blood.

Several individuals have been questioned, and video footage from cameras installed at Zvartnots Airport and other locations has been seized and studied. As a result of these investigations, it has been determined that Elena Sergeeva arrived in Armenia on June 4, 2023, from Moscow and had no hostile relationships with anyone in either Russia or Armenia. However, she had strained relations with the American citizen identified as R.T. after severing connections.

It was also revealed that after arriving at Zvartnots Airport, Elena Sergeeva left the airport in a Toyota vehicle with Georgian license plates, driven by R.T., born in 1989.

Following extensive investigative and operational measures, it was established that the murder of Elena Sergeeva was allegedly committed by R.T., with jealousy and personal tensions cited as reasons. Specifically, the investigation found that R.T. met Elena Sergeeva in Moscow in 2019, and they were in a relationship until May 2020 when they broke up. The breakup stemmed from R.T. frequently creating scenes of jealousy and attempting to monitor Sergeeva's movements.

Unable to accept their separation, R.T. made repeated attempts to rekindle their relationship, which were rejected by her. He harassed her in various ways, made threats against her, and disseminated defamatory information about her. Upon learning that she had begun associating with another man, he threatened her with physical harm.

In an attempt to clarify and end their relationship once and for all, Elena Sergeeva agreed to meet R.T. for a final encounter. They arranged to meet in Yerevan, Armenia, on June 4, 2023. For this purpose, on May 16, 2023, she purchased a round-trip airline ticket from Moscow to Yerevan for that date, arriving at Zvartnots Airport at 12:55 on flight SU 1860.

Not coping with the fact that she had a new partner, R.T., under the pretext of meeting her for the last time with the intent to unlawfully take her life, rented a black Toyota SUV in Tbilisi, Georgia. R.T. crossed into Armenia through the Gogavan checkpoint on May 31, 2023, at 14:52.

Prior to Sergeeva's arrival in Armenia, to conceal his criminal intentions, he stayed at various hotels on a daily rental basis. On June 4, he rented a guesthouse in the Gegharkunik Province's Yeghvard municipality via the internet for one day. Afterward, on the same day, he drove alone to Zvartnots Airport in the rented SUV, where he met Elena at 13:01, and together they drove towards Yerevan.

They had lunch together at the “Kaciin” restaurant located on Amiryan Street, after which they proceeded towards the guesthouse he rented. On the same day, between 15:34 and 17:31, in an undisclosed location, he inflicted blows to Elena Sergeeva’s head and various parts of her body resulting in her death from cranio-cerebral trauma.

Afterward, in an attempt to cover his tracks, he concealed Elena Sergeeva's body, unclothed, in a wooded area off the third turn along the road from Dilijan towards Sevan, and disposed of her clothing and personal items along various points of his route. Later that day, at 23:41, R.T. left Armenia through the Bagratashen checkpoint and crossed into Georgia.

Through cooperation with Georgian law enforcement, it was confirmed that on June 5, 2023, he had returned the vehicle to the rental company and had flown to Turkey.

Based on sufficient evidence, the prosecution body has submitted a motion to the supervising prosecutor for public criminal prosecution against R.T. under Article 155, Part 1 of the Armenian Criminal Code, which has been granted. A motion has also been submitted to the court to apply pre-trial detention as a measure of restraint, which was approved by the court. R.T. is now on the wanted list. The preliminary investigation is ongoing.

It is worth noting that earlier reports indicated that the body of a naked and partially mutilated Russian woman was discovered in the forest adjacent to the Dilijan bends.