The Murder & Decapitation of Artyom Shustov

On October 28, 2016, Nikita Rasskazov, 16, confronted Artyom Shustov, 19, in a public park in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia, after his girlfriend, 17-year-old Olena Matsneva, claimed the man flirted with and inappropriately touched her breasts and genitals at a party a few days before.

The two men knew each other from summer camp where they worked together for a few months. Rasskazov considered Shustov to be a friend.

Confrontation Leads to Murder

Shustov explained to Rasskazov that Matsneva had been flirting with him all night at the party and eventually, he gave in to her advances and kissed and touched her. This enraged Rasskazov who then pulled out a kitchen knife from his pocket and repeatedly stabbed Arytom in the abdomen and back.

Rasskazov then cut off Shustov’s head and placed it into a plastic bag that he hid in his backpack. He left the park and Rasskazov went home with the severed head, placing it inside a wardrobe with the bloodied clothing he wore that evening at the park.

Rasskazov Confesses to Olena

The next morning, he confessed what he had done to Olena, bringing along the head as proof. He thought his girlfriend would be satisfied with the murder and beheading because it “proved his love” for her. Instead, Olena was distraught at the sight of the severed head. Angered, Rasskazov packed the backpack with the severed head and stones to weigh it down, then tossed it into the River Silinka.

Olena notified the police to report the crime. Police eventually found his body hidden in bushes in Zheleznodorozhnikov Park. Rasskazov had dragged the headless body into the bushes and placed the victim’s student papers on top of his body after the murders.

'It was dragged for about ten meters to be hidden into the bushes, the trace is quite visible,' said a witness.

'There was no blood next to the victim, but papers covered in blood were nearby,' the witness said. 'The body looked very white, as if the head was cut off elsewhere before it was dragged and thrown here.'

'His fingers were covered with multiple cuts. Perhaps he was trying to protect himself with his hands or fighting the attacker, or both.'

Witnesses Come Forward

Witnesses came forward saying they did not witness Arytom make any unwanted sexual advances toward Olena. Instead, they confirmed the story he told Rasskazov: Olena pursued him that evening.

Ashamed of flirting with another boy, she told her boyfriend a different version of events to avoid the repercussions of her actions.

On October 30, 2016, Rasskazov was charged with the murder and desecration of a human body. He admitted to the police that he stabbed and decapitated the man after Olena told him he sexually assaulted and harassed her at a party.

Trial and Case Aftermath

During his trial, it was heard how Rasskazov brought matches with him to the park intent on setting Shustov’s remains afire to dispose of evidence but could not accomplish this due to the matches being damp.

Despite evidence of pre-meditation, the court sentenced Rasskazov to only 6 years, 10 months in prison for the brutal murder and desecration of a human body. He was also ordered to pay 2.19 million roubles (just over $25,000 USD) to Shustov’s family.

My condolences to the family of the victim.

Resources & More Case Information:

https://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/n0907-teenager-beheaded-man-who-sexually-molested-his-girlfriend/

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