Suspected Killer of Crypto Millionaire Couple Dies in UAE Prison

A man suspected of murdering Russian crypto millionaire Roman Novak and his wife Anna has died in a United Arab Emirates prison, according to Russian authorities. Vladimir Dalekin, 45, a former Russian war fighter, was found dead in his cell last month, though news of his death was only disclosed on Friday by Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service.

Dalekin was one of three individuals accused of kidnapping, torturing, and dismembering Novak, 38, and his wife Anna, 37, a former TV reporter, in Dubai. Russian media reported that Dalekin died from an unspecified "longstanding" and "chronic illness," despite no prior reports of him having health issues.

The couple was last seen in October of the previous year, when they reportedly drove to meet investors in Dubai's Hatta mountain resort. Novak and his wife, who documented an affluent lifestyle on social media, were allegedly abducted and murdered in a villa. Their remains were later discovered buried in the desert after their families in Russia reported them missing.

Dalekin, along with Konstantin Shakht, 53, a former homicide investigator turned drug smuggler, and Yury Sharypov, 46, a war fighter, were accused of posing as investors to lure the couple. It is alleged that after abducting Novak and his wife, the suspects demanded the password to Novak's crypto wallet.

Novak had reportedly messaged contacts stating he was "stuck in the mountains on the Oman border" and urgently needed approximately $200,000 (£152,000). He had previously boasted of connections to wealthy individuals, including Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram social media platform.

At the time of his disappearance, Novak was reportedly under investigation for allegedly defrauding crypto investors of over $50 million (£38 million) through purported business development schemes. Russian reports indicated that alleged victims included businessmen from China and Middle Eastern countries. The Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper described Novak as a "talented manipulator" who presented himself as being on the same level as figures like Durov and Arab sheikhs. Novak had previously served a prison sentence for embezzlement, according to Russian reports.

The couple's orphaned children were reportedly taken in by Anna's parents following their disappearance.