Suspect describes shocking proposal and blackmail in boy's murder

9-year-old Pasha from St. Petersburg was sought by everyone since January 30. That day around 5 p.m., he left a Lenta store on Tallinn Highway and headed towards the nearby fast-food restaurant «Vkusno i Tochka». He was often seen there in the parking lot, where the boy offered to wash car windows for money. That day, after a brief conversation with another driver (with whom, as it turned out, the boy was previously acquainted), he got into the car. No one saw the child again.

The suspect was detained in Pskov on February 2. According to Fontanka, investigators accessed his correspondence.

On the evening of February 2, the suspect in the murder of 9-year-old Pasha told investigators how he killed the boy and where he disposed of the body. He mentioned a certain unfrozen lake near Yalgelevo. Law enforcement officers apprehended the suspect and went to search. Dozens of volunteers joined the operatives and investigators, but their participation was quickly halted. The four-day search for the child ended tragically.

As told by 38-year-old Petr Zhilkin, born near Luhansk, on January 30 he came to the Lenta store on Tallinn Highway and saw Pasha. A conversation ensued, during which Petr asked the boy to get into the car, promising to buy him something. Inside the car, the man grew bolder and proposed to perform an intimate service for 5,000 rubles (about $54 at current rates). The child allegedly agreed, after which they headed to a secluded spot.

On the way, the boy, who according to Zhilkin turned out to be quite bold himself, made a counter-demand. He, of course, realized that the man was offering him something inappropriate. So he directly said that he would tell everyone about the indecent proposal and then Petr would be finished. Pasha allegedly valued his silence at half a million rubles.

Petr Zhilkin«s reaction was violent. It is worth noting separately that he weighs about 120 kilograms (265 lbs). And so this hulking man struck the 9-year-old child with a backhand blow. The boy wheezed, and vomiting began. Zhilkin realized he had overdone it, but at the same time could not let the victim go in such a condition. According to the suspect, he hit the child several more times. Pasha fell silent. In silence, they drove to Yalgelevo.

In the village, according to the detainee, Pasha was still breathing but did not regain consciousness. Petr found heavy pipes, either iron or cast iron, as well as rope in his shed. With all this, he drove to the unfrozen springs. There he tied the boy to the pipes and drowned him. Afterwards, since the car was soiled, he went to a car wash.

Next was a romantic evening with an acquaintance, during which both drank. It was then that it finally dawned on Petr what he had done. He realized he would soon be found, so he got into the car and rushed towards Pskov, where his acquaintances lived. He told them at the doorstep that he was being sought but was not guilty. He did not mention the child. The friends took pity, bought a new SIM card. Petr started drinking, apparently trying to forget. But then he was caught by the police.

According to Fontanka, the detainee was born on the former territory of Ukraine, lived in Rostov, and ended up in St. Petersburg. Before this, he had not been charged under criminal articles, worked as a foreman at construction sites for various organizations. The man was married, has a daughter—the same age as the murdered Pasha.

During detention, he had a computer that he took from his home in Yalgelevo. On the hard drive, law enforcement officers found child pornography. All discovered files and correspondence will likely be attached to the criminal case, and possibly not just one.