Burning Man Victim Identified as Community Hero, Investigation Ongoing

The victim of a homicide at the Burning Man festival has been identified as 37-year-old Vadim Kruglov by the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office. Confirmation of his identity came after a friend, influencer Sofiia Shcherbakova, appealed for public assistance on social media, expressing deep concern for his well-being.

Sofiia shared several images and a video of Vadim on September 2, describing him as a “missing person.” In her post, she stated, “Last seen at the Burning Man festival 4 days ago. He has not been in contact since. His tent and belongings were left at camp, but he never returned. Please share this information widely.”

The investigation into Vadim’s death began when authorities discovered a man lying in a pool of blood on the evening of August 30, 2023. At approximately 21:14, a deputy was alerted by a festival participant, leading to the discovery of the deceased individual. The Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting interviews with festival attendees and has increased law enforcement presence in the area as part of the ongoing investigation.

Sofiia later claimed that police had informed her of Vadim’s death, although the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office did not verify this information in communications with the media. In her tribute, she honored Vadim as “a true hero of Burning Man,” praising his contributions to the community, which included building camps and creating art installations.

To support his family, Sofiia initiated a fundraising effort to repatriate Vadim’s remains to Omsk, Russia. She emphasized the importance of honoring his memory and urged those who knew him to contribute, stating, “Any support means a lot.” Alongside her request for donations, she provided banking details for those wishing to assist.

While Sofiia refrained from directly linking Vadim to the homicide investigation, she solicited the public’s help in gathering information about his final days at the festival. She encouraged anyone with photos, videos, or memories of interactions with him to come forward, stressing that every detail could be vital to the investigation.

In a statement on August 31, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the initiation of a homicide investigation. They noted that the deceased individual was found shortly before the ceremonial burning of the Man, a central event of the festival.

As the festival community mourns Vadim’s passing, authorities continue to seek answers surrounding the circumstances of his death. The investigation remains active, with a focus on uncovering the events leading up to the tragic incident.