Murder of 9-year-old Pasha involved blackmail, suspect confesses

On the evening of February 2, the detainee in the murder case of nine-year-old Pasha described to investigators how he took the child«s life and hid his remains. He mentioned an unfrozen lake near Yalgelewo, after which law enforcement officers went to search with the participation of volunteers, but their assistance was soon called off. The four-day story ended tragically.

According to the accused, 38-year-old Pyotr Zhilkin, born near Luhansk (Ukraine), on January 30 he drove up to the Lenta hypermarket on Tallinn Highway and saw the boy. After starting a conversation, Zhilkin invited Pasha to get into the car, promising to buy him something. Inside the car, the man offered the child intimate services for five thousand rubles (about $56 at current rates), to which, according to the testimony, the boy agreed, after which they headed to a deserted place.

During the ride, the boy, realizing the indecency of the proposal, put forward a counter-condition. He stated that he would tell everyone, which would lead to Pyotr«s ruin, and valued his silence at half a million rubles (about $5,600 at current rates).

Pyotr Zhilkin, who weighs about 120 kilograms (264 lbs), reacted aggressively, striking the child with force. The boy began wheezing and vomiting. Realizing he had gone too far but understanding he could not let the victim go, Zhilkin struck several more blows. Pasha lost consciousness, and in silence they drove to Yalgelewo.

Upon arrival, as the detainee claims, the boy was still breathing but not regaining consciousness. Zhilkin found heavy metal pipes and a rope in a utility room, after which he went to the unfrozen springs. There he tied the child to the pipes and drowned him. Then, since the car was soiled, the man went to a car wash.

After that, Zhilkin had a romantic evening with a female acquaintance involving alcohol consumption. It was then that he realized what he had done. Realizing that he would soon be discovered, he went to acquaintances in Pskov (Russia), telling them that he was being sought but denying guilt. He did not tell them about the child. Friends bought him a new SIM card, and Pyotr began abusing alcohol, trying to forget. However, he was soon detained by the police.

According to information, the suspect was born in Ukraine, lived in Rostov (Russia), and then ended up in St. Petersburg. He had not previously been charged with criminal offenses and worked as a foreman at construction sites. Zhilkin was married and has a daughter, the same age as the deceased Pasha.

When detained, Zhilkin had a laptop taken from his home in Yalgelewo. On the hard drive of the device, law enforcement officers found materials with child pornography. All found files and correspondence will likely be attached to the criminal case, possibly not just one.