«Mountain Out of a Molehill»: Suspect Arrested in Boy's Murder

Nine-year-old Pasha from St. Petersburg died after interacting with a stranger. His body, tied to pipes, was discovered last night, and the boy«s backpack was found frozen in ice. Earlier on the morning of 3 February, the Oktyabrsky District Court of St. Petersburg ordered the remand in custody of 38-year-old Pyotr Zhilkin, who confessed to the murder.

Preventive Measure for Pyotr Zhilkin

By the time of the open hearing at the Oktyabrsky District Court at 4 p.m., a crowd of onlookers had gathered. The suspect was brought in closer to 7 p.m. after a crime scene reconstruction. A large man, weighing about 120 kilograms (265 lb), handcuffed and with a hood pulled over his head, he hid his face from those present. Zhilkin«s lawyer unsuccessfully requested the hearing be closed.

In the courtroom, Zhilkin continued to hide, turning away from journalists and periodically adjusting his hood. In response to one question, he said: «You made a mountain out of a molehill, damn it.» His lawyer immediately interrupted him.

Pyotr Zhilkin is charged under Article 105, Part 2, Clause «c» of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (murder of a minor). He faces a penalty of up to life imprisonment. The 38-year-old man, a native of Ukraine, previously lived in Rostov and then moved to St. Petersburg. He has nine years of education, works as a construction foreman, is unmarried, and is raising an 11-year-old daughter. In court, Zhilkin could not provide his registered address, and it also emerged that he had repeatedly communicated with minors.

The suspect fully confessed his guilt both during interrogation and at the court hearing. The investigator and prosecutor supported the request for arrest, and Zhilkin himself did not object to detention. The judge granted the request, and the man will be held in pretrial detention until 31 March 2026.

How Pasha Died

According to the investigation, on 30 January at about 2 p.m., nine-year-old Pasha left his home in the Krasnoselsky District of St. Petersburg and got into a car with an unknown man. After that, contact with the child was lost.

Pyotr Zhilkin told law enforcement that he met the boy near the Lenta hypermarket on Tallinn Highway. He offered Pasha to get into the car, promising to buy him something. Then the man became more persistent and offered the child a sexual favor for 5,000 rubles (approximately $55 at current exchange rates). According to the suspect, the boy agreed, after which they drove to a deserted location.

There, according to Zhilkin«s testimony, Pasha tried to blackmail him, demanding a large sum of money under threat of exposure. The man struck the child, causing him to wheeze and vomit. Zhilkin then struck him several more times, after which the boy fell silent.

The suspect then transported the body to the Yalgelevo area. There, he retrieved heavy pipes and rope from a utility room, then headed to a non-freezing spring. At the site, he tied Pasha to the pipes and drowned him.

The car owner was identified, and on 2 February, Pyotr Zhilkin was detained in Pskov Oblast. Late that evening, he was taken to Lomonosovsky District, where he indicated the location near the Nizhny Shingarsky waterfall where he had hidden the body. Search operations continued, and during the night of 3 February, the child«s body was discovered by passersby and volunteers.

Forensic examinations, including a medical examiner«s review, have been ordered. Investigators conducted searches at Zhilkin»s residence, examined his car and electronic devices. During the searches, child pornography was found.

What Is Known About Nine-Year-Old Pasha

Nine-year-old Pasha grew up in a large family living in the Krasnoselsky District of St. Petersburg. The boy had three brothers and three sisters. The younger children attend kindergarten, while the older ones, including the eldest who is about to turn 13, go to school.

Pasha himself did not attend school but tried to earn money by wiping car headlights near his home. His grandmother knew about this and did not object.

At the end of last year, the family was placed under supervision as being in a socially dangerous situation. The mother of the children had previously been held administratively liable for improper fulfillment of parental duties.

The office of the Commissioner for Children«s Rights in St. Petersburg confirmed that the family»s situation is being monitored.