The Amur region investigative bodies of the Russian Investigative Committee are investigating a case over a murder of Lyuba Gromyko, 10, started on the signs of crime under articles 105 and 132 of the Russian federation Criminal Code. On 6 December 2011, about 7:45 a.m. the girl set off for the Children’s Art School and did not returned back home. On 21 December 2011, during the search operation her body with traces of strangulation and sexual violence was found on the outskirts of the village.
A team of experienced investigators of the SK Central Office arrived to investigate the case. As a result of using advanced forensic methods, the investigators found that the crime involved an unemployed Aleksey Nikonov. He has been apprehended today in Shemanovsky district of the Amur region. In the near future the charges will be brought against him and the investigators are going to request court to put him into custody.
The involvement of Nikonov has been checked as a private version since April 2012. When he was delivered to the investigating office to be interrogated to check the version of a crime committed by a person with criminal records, Nikonov started to get nervous and left the office without permission. Such deviant behavior triggered the investigators to check him more scrupulously on the involvement in the crime. Persons from his circle of acquaintances were questioned, the places where he used to spend time and his house were searched. The men’s gloves and a hat found there were immediately sent for molecular and DNA tests which proved to be positive. The DNA on the girl’s body matched the DNA on the Nokonov’s clothes.
During this investigation, the officers have already questioned over 2,500 witnesses, arranged and carried out more than 1,000 DNA tests, dozens of searches and examinations. At present, the investigators continue to collect and consolidate the evidence.
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