Russian man held over double murder in north Goa
Russian man held over double murder in north Goa
Authorities say a Russian national killed two women in north Goa, with investigators probing a possible live-in relationship and motive as the suspect is in custody.
Police have arrested a Russian national, Aleksei Leonov, in connection with the deaths of two fellow Russians in Goa in mid-January. The incidents unfolded in Morjim on January 14 and Arambol on January 15, with investigators saying the suspect is in custody and the probe is ongoing.
According to Mandrem police, Leonov killed Elena Vaneeva, 37, in her room in Morjim on January 14, slitting her neck with a knife after 11 p.m. The landlady reported the crime, prompting authorities to launch an inquiry.
On January 15, Leonov reportedly travelled to Arambol, where he killed Elena Kasthanova, 37, after binding her with a rope-like material before slitting her throat. Both bodies were recovered on January 16, police said.
Earlier reports have described Elena Vaneeva as a resident in Goa since 2024 and suggested she had a live-in relationship with Leonov. Investigators say Kasthanova's body was found with her arms tied behind her back, reinforcing the belief of a violent confrontation. The two victims were Russian nationals, and the case has drawn attention to safety concerns in tourist areas.
Authorities have said Leonov was arrested by the Mandrem police and that further investigations into the double murders are ongoing. No motive has been officially disclosed yet, and investigators are examining the pair's relationship and movements in Goa around the dates of the deaths.
