What initially appeared to be a tragic accident on a rural farm in Russia was later treated as a serious crime. Police said the teenage girl’s death had followed a violent attack that was made to appear accidental.
A 17-year-old girl named Milena Shevelyova was found dead inside her family’s pigsty in Krasnoyarsk. Early reports suggested she had been attacked only by pigs. Investigators later said that was not the full story.
Police charged Igor Zaika, 41, a farm worker and colleague of Milena’s father. He was accused of attacking his boss’s daughter while she was home alone. Milena’s parents had left her to manage routine chores that day, including feeding the pigs, something she regularly helped with on the farm.
According to investigators, Zaika entered the pigsty and got into a confrontation with Milena. In a video-recorded interrogation, he told officers, “I came in, and there’s his daughter, the manager’s daughter… we got into a fight.”
Authorities said Milena was struck multiple times. Zaika admitted that he had “went at her with a stick” and “threw a few punches… to her head.” Police believed this left her unconscious on the ground.
Investigators said that while Milena was unable to defend herself, she was sexually assaulted. Zaika did not confess to this part during the filmed questioning, but police said forensic evidence supported the charge.
According to The Sun, after the attack, police said Zaika took Milena’s phone and left the pigsty. He later told investigators that he had destroyed the phone and the stick used in the attack by burning them in a furnace.
Investigators believed that after he left, the pigs attacked Milena. A report by news outlet Readovka stated, “The man deliberately left the girl to be eaten by pigs, because he knew that the animals would attack the body.”
When Milena stopped answering her phone, her parents became worried. They contacted her boyfriend, Vladimir Bedny, 18, and asked him to check on her. Vladimir went to the pigsty with a torch.
Media outlet NGS24 reported, “Switching on his torch, he saw the horrifying scene on the floor.” Witnesses said Vladimir ran out, vomiting and shouting for help.
He immediately called an ambulance, but medics could do nothing. Milena had already died from severe blood loss. Police reported multiple injuries to her head and body consistent with animal bites. A message shared by the Bad News Telegram channel said, “All the other pigs attacked her.”
At first, police questioned Vladimir as part of standard procedure. As the investigation continued, evidence led them to focus on Zaika instead.
A law enforcement source told media outlets, “As someone who had lived in the village all his life and worked with livestock, he perfectly understood that the animals could ‘finish off’ the girl lying on the floor.”
The source added, “He was counting on this: the pigs would mutilate the body, and everything would look like an accident.”
Local residents described Milena as kind and hardworking. A neighbor named Vera said, “She was such a kind person. Always helping her parents with everything. A truly compassionate child.” She added, “I can’t wrap my head around this loss. Just 17 years old.”
Another local resident said, “Milena’s parents were unlikely to return to work anymore. Such psychological trauma.”
Vladimir later posted a short tribute online, writing, “You will forever remain in my heart.”
Zaika was charged with murder carried out with particular cruelty, allegedly to hide a sexual assault. He also faced a separate charge related to a violent sexual attack on a minor. Authorities confirmed he had a prior conviction connected to a stabbing incident involving his brother, per En Haberler.
