doused the body with gasoline and set it on fire. Arrest, trial and imprisonment On January 24, 2004, the police found the charred body of the seventh victim, but were unable to establish her identity until a week and a half later. After this, they started a thorough investigation, resulting in similarly burned corpses of women being located around Magnitogorsk. A break in the case came when the girlfriend of one of the killers contacted the police, claiming that he had confessed to her what he had done. Shortly afterwards, both Lokhtachyov and Safonov were arrested and charged with the murders of the eight women. In November of that year, they were found guilty on all counts, and each was given a life term. Confessions In June 2021, while serving his life term at the Polar Owl colony, Lokhtachyov suddenly contacted investigators, claiming that he wanted to confess to the Kosterkin murders. He readily confessed to being the killer, but claimed he had been hired to do it by a corrupt prosecutor and policeman who had previous issues with Kosterkin. His version of events was not accepted, and Lokhtachyov was soon charged with the double murder. He was found guilty three months later, and was given another life term to be served consecutively with his previous one. See also List of Russian serial killers References 1981 births 1982 births 21st-century Russian criminals Russian male criminals Male serial killers Russian serial killers Russian rapists Criminal duos Russian prisoners and detainees Prisoners and detainees of Russia Russian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Russia Violence against women in Russia People from Magnitogorsk