Police in Russia are attempting to get to the bottom of a mystery involving the skeletal remains of a man found handcuffed to a tree.
The body of Ivan Klyucharev, 30, was found in Shatura, Moscow, two years after he was reported missing. Now cops are looking into a variety of theories about how the 'failed Houdini' came to end up in the forest, chained to a tree.
Despite a major search for hiker and adventurer Klyucharev, a body was never found, until now.
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Law enforcement have said their 'main version' of events is that the survival fanatic had tried to recreate an escape trick but failed and died in the remote location, after going on a trip to the forest back in May 2017.
However, police have said they are also examining evidence which suggests Klyucharev was into 'bizarre sexual practices' including BDSM and that his death may have occurred during an attempt to film himself carrying out a 'BDSM experiment'.
Another potential line of enquiry for police is that Klyucharev was murdered and the crime scene was posed to make it seem as though his death was a bizarre and tragic accident.
His decayed remains were found lying down and handcuffed to a chain which was secured to a tree.
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Near to his skeleton, a camera was set up - pointing at him. His solo tent was also nearby.
Also at the scene were five sets of handcuffs, three metal chains, six padlocks and a book about knots.
Police are now looking at the camera's memory card and his computer to see if there is evidence of an interest in BDSM.
Some local media has reported that only his left hand was handcuffed.
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The Russian Investigative Committee said: "He was on the list of missing persons.
"It has been established that the man was a member of a community that practised survival skills in extreme conditions.
"Forensic analysis has been ordered to establish the exact cause of death."
Committee official Olga Vradiy said: "Detailed checks are underway aimed at establishing all the circumstances.
"The opinion of forensic experts has been requested in order to understand the true reason for the man's death."
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Friends of Klyucharev have said he often went on walking trips and had previously hitchhiked across Russia.
They are now urging police to examine the case properly to determine if their friend was killed, took his own life or died in an accident.
One friend said: "I can easily imagine that he went to the forest and decided to try his luck this way by chaining himself and throwing away the keys."
Featured Image Credit: East2West
Topics: World News, crime, Russia