Found dead: Police suspect that Ivan Klyucharev, pictured, may have died in a failed ‘Houdini’ attempt
A video camera found near the skeleton of a Russian hiker could hold the clue to his mystery death, detectives believe.
Ivan Klyucharev’s remains were found handcuffed to a tree in woods 80 miles from Moscow almost two years after he went missing.
Russian police say their main theory is that the 30-year-old survival skills fanatic died in a disastrous attempt at a ‘Houdini’ escape trick.
However they are also examining evidence that he may have died in a bizarre BDSM sexual experiment.
Detectives are also probing the possibility that Klyucharev was murdered, and the crime scene staged to look like an accident.
A video camera was found pointing towards the courier’s body and police are now examining its memory card to find clues.
Reports in Russia say police have also looked at his computer, which is said to contain evidence of the dead man’s interest in BDSM sex.
Detectives also found a one-man tent, five sets of handcuffs, three metal chains, six padlocks and a book on knots.
Part of his body – possibly his left hand – was handcuffed to a chain which was secured around a tree.
Grim discovery: The skull which was found by a local resident in Shatura, 80 miles from Moscow, was still covered by a hoodie which Klyucharev had been wearing
Evidence: Police found five sets of handcuffs, three metal chains, six padlocks and a book on knots at the scene, as well as a one-man tent and a camera
Outdoors: Klyucharev, pictured, was a survival skills fanatic who had earlier hitchhiked across Russia and often went on walking trips to remote spots
Local resident Eduard Karpov came across the gruesome sight in Shatura, almost two years after the hiker was last seen in May 2017.
He spotted Klyucharev’s skull – still covered by a hoodie – and then uncovered the rest of his skeleton covered by leaves.
Discussing Klyucharev’s case, the Russian Investigative Committee said: ‘He was on the list of missing persons.
‘It has been established that the man was a member of a community that practised survival skills in extreme conditions.
‘Forensic analysis has been ordered to establish the exact cause of death.’
Committee official Olga Vradiy said: ‘Detailed checks are underway aimed at establishing all the circumstances.
Victim: Ivan Klyucharev, pictured, had not been seen since May 2017. His body was found by a local resident who noticed his skull and then uncovered the rest of the corpse under leaves
Investigators examine evidence at the scene of the death. Police are considering theories including a ‘Houdini’ attempt, a murder or a bizarre sexual experiment
‘The opinion of forensic experts has been requested in order to understand the true reason for the man’s death.’
Klyucharev had earlier hitchhiked across Russia and often went on walking trips to remote spots.
One friend of the dead man said: ‘I can easily imagine that he went to the forest and decided to try his luck this way by chaining himself and throwing away the keys.’
112 Telegram channel said that the man’s unnamed mother had been searching for her son for two years but to no avail.
The forest where he was found had previously been searched several times in vain.