Russian cryptocurrency entrepreneur Roman Novak and his wife Anna met a gruesome end after reportedly fleeing with millions from crypto investors. Their bodies were found dismembered and buried in the Dubai desert, a month after they went missing in early October. The couple vanished following a trip to meet potential investors in Hatta, near Dubai, where they allegedly intended to close a substantial deal.

Novak, previously convicted for large-scale fraud in Russia and sentenced to six years in prison, had relocated to the UAE after parole. There, he launched a crypto app called Fintopio, raising an estimated $500 million from investors across the globe before coming under suspicion for orchestrating one of the region’s largest crypto scams.

The investigation revealed that the couple were kidnapped by a group who sought access to their alleged fortune. After failing to unlock the Novaks’ assets or extract a ransom, the abductors murdered them, dismembered their bodies, and attempted to hide the remains in containers in the desert. The killers then destroyed the victims’ belongings and disposed of evidence at several sites in the United Arab Emirates.

Authorities acted swiftly, detaining several Russian nationals involved in the crime. Some suspects are accused of orchestrating the murder, while others reportedly served as intermediaries in laundering the stolen funds. Russian law enforcement has since opened a murder case, with suspects facing extradition and prosecution.

The Novaks were known on social media for flaunting luxury cars, private jets, and ties with influential figures. Their fate serves as a stark warning about the dark side of the crypto world, where massive fortunes and high-risk schemes can turn deadly.