Burning Man Killing of 37-Year-Old Vadim Kruglov Remains Unsolved 1 Year Later

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 2

A year after Vadim Kruglov was found stabbed to death in a tent at Burning Man, investigators still have made no arrest and cannot account for roughly four hours before he was discovered on Aug. 30, 2025.
Pershing County investigators believe the 37-year-old was killed inside the tent where he was found; a knife remained lodged in his neck, no defensive wounds were found, and DNA profiles were recovered from the weapon.
Kruglov had spent much of that day at Rampart, the festival's temporary hospital, and was released around 5 p.m.; authorities have not publicly identified two men seen with him while he was DJing near 2 a.m.
Friends told SFGATE Kruglov had grown increasingly paranoid after using cocaine and possibly methamphetamine in the days before his death, at one point saying people were watching him and wanted him out of camp.
The killing, described by investigators as Burning Man's first known homicide, happened as up to 80,000 attendees gathered for the annual desert festival, with authorities still seeking tips as this year's event unfolds.