Ekaterina Karaglanova was born on July 13, 1994, in Russia, hailing from a family of doctors. Her father was a neurologist, and her mother was a cardiologist.

Ekaterina grew up as a good and intelligent student, possessing natural talent that allowed her to quickly learn various languages. Her favorite subject was humanities, and she harbored a dream of becoming a model.

Because of her intelligence and beauty, she entered the world of pageantry, viewing it as a stepping stone to realize her modeling aspirations. When she entered 8th grade, her mind shifted; she was confused about whether to pursue journalism or follow her parents’ path in medicine.

Ultimately, she pursued medicine. In 9th grade, she enrolled in a pre-med program at the Russian National Research Medical University to prepare herself for her chosen field. Upon graduating from high school, she immediately started college, focusing diligently on her studies.

Occasionally, to alleviate the stress of her academic life, she used social media. In her second year of university, she officially became an Instagram model due to her inherent beauty.

It wasn’t long before many agencies contacted her, offering contracts. These offers transformed Ekaterina’s life as a model, allowing her to earn money while pursuing her passion.

She later became a model for various beauty products, earning her the title of a beauty vlogger. Every project she posted on her social media was compensated, allowing her to purchase what she desired and travel to places she wished to visit.

In addition to being a student, social media influencer, and model, Ekaterina also competed in beauty pageants. In 2018, she won first runner-up in a pageant.

And in 2019, she began her clinical residency—the final stage of her studies before becoming a licensed doctor. She was part of the Department of Dermatology.

Because of her beauty, people who saw her social media posts often compared her to the actress Audrey Hepburn. With over 85,000 followers, she frequently shared her skincare routines and her travels to various European countries.

She had traveled extensively, visiting places like Corfu, Greece, and Paris. She even posted a picture on her social media showing her dining at a fine dining restaurant.

The Betrayal and The Disappearance

The month of July was special for Ekaterina and her loved ones, as she was scheduled to celebrate her 25th birthday that month.

On July 23, her parents contacted her to ask about her birthday plans. However, they failed to receive a reply from their daughter.

They weren’t immediately worried, believing she was simply busy with her clinical residency and social media work. But after two days, Ekaterina’s parents still had not received a reply, and she hadn’t posted anything new on her social media.

This led Ekaterina’s parents to contact the landlord of her apartment building to ask about her. The landlord’s calls to Ekaterina also went unanswered.

They decided to visit her apartment to check on her. Upon arrival, the landlord accompanied them to Ekaterina’s room.

Using the master key, they tried to open the room. When they managed to open it, they saw that the interior was clean. Only a suitcase in the middle of the room looked conspicuously out of place.

Ekaterina’s father immediately approached the suitcase to look inside, but as he got closer, he grew anxious, noticing something protruding—it looked like a leg—from within.

He quickly opened it, and to his horror, the lifeless, unclothed body of Ekaterina was revealed. Her mother screamed loudly in shock. Her scream was heard by neighboring tenants, who rushed out.

Upon seeing the horrific sight of what had happened to Ekaterina, they immediately called the police. Ekaterina’s father immediately called an ambulance.

When the medical responders arrived and examined Ekaterina, they sadly declared that nothing could be done; it was too late, and she had already perished. All of Ekaterina’s fans and followers were saddened by the incident.

But they were even more shocked and alarmed when they learned the full details of Ekaterina’s passing. According to interviews with the authorities, Ekaterina had sustained multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest.

They added that whoever assaulted her was filled with rage, as the perpetrator was not content with merely stabbing her—they had slashed her throat,

a sign that the assailant harbored personal animosity and was determined to ensure she would not survive. A huge question arose among Ekaterina’s family and fans: Who was responsible for this act?

Who caused the loss of life of such a kind person who only wanted to achieve her dreams? That question would be answered once the authorities concluded their investigation.

The nature of the criminal act would prove that not everything seen on social media is true. While the authorities investigated, Ekaterina’s father shared that the suitcase used to conceal the victim’s body

was one she frequently used for traveling. It was, in fact, the very suitcase she intended to use for her planned birthday trip to the Netherlands.

The authorities searched every corner of Ekaterina’s apartment for evidence that might point to the assailant. But they failed to find anything in Ekaterina’s apartment.

They noted that there were no signs of struggle and no murder weapon— meaning no immediate foul play was evident within her apartment.

The authorities added that the perpetrator had meticulously cleaned the entire apartment to eliminate any evidence. The perpetrator was meticulous in the act of violence itself.

As in any normal investigation, the authorities began the elimination process, interviewing those close to the victim.

After interviewing Ekaterina’s parents and friends, the initial angle they explored was jealousy as the motive for her loss of life. While the investigation was ongoing, a rumor spread. According to the rumor, Ekaterina was in a relationship with a 52-year-old businessman.

The public speculated that he was Ekaterina’s Sugar Daddy, providing her with the money to buy what she wanted and travel wherever she pleased. Ekaterina’s family denied this, calling the information insensitive, as they maintained that Ekaterina had her own income from her modeling gigs.

The Russian public didn’t stop delving into Ekaterina’s personal life to uncover the reason for her loss of life. In their search, the public feasted on the news that Ekaterina was supposedly an escort—that she allegedly provided intimate services for money.

Photos circulated, claiming to show her on an escort website, supposedly proving that her income came not just from modeling gigs but also from escort work. According to those who spread the information, Ekaterina could travel extensively because she was an international escort.

Those close to Ekaterina denied this, asserting she was not an escort. They claimed the rumors were initiated by an envious student.

The circulating rumors did not help the investigation, and the authorities did not waste time pursuing them, as they were focused on finding the true perpetrator of the unlawful act.

The Confession and The Conviction

While rumors about Ekaterina spread, the authorities quietly pursued the case. They requested a copy of the CCTV footage from the building where she resided.

The CCTV footage provided the details that would point to the perpetrator. On July 26, the CCTV captured a man entering the building and proceeding directly to Ekaterina’s apartment.

Four hours after his arrival, he was seen leaving the apartment. The CCTV also noted that upon leaving, he was carrying a small suitcase.

The authorities were puzzled that he was wearing gloves, as the temperature was warm at 27°C at the time. Investigators immediately sought the man seen in the CCTV footage, strongly suspecting he was the perpetrator.

The authorities showed the man in the CCTV to Ekaterina’s family, who immediately identified him as the victim’s ex-boyfriend. Just three days later, the authorities arrested the man, identified as Maxim Gavrilov.

In a video, Maxim admitted that he and Ekaterina had a relationship. Maxim claimed that whenever they met, he would give Ekaterina money.

But one day, she suddenly broke up with him for reasons he didn’t understand. After Ekaterina broke up with Maxim, she immediately accepted the courtship of a businessman, who was older than her.

Ekaterina and her new boyfriend planned to celebrate her birthday abroad. Maxim claimed he wanted to see Ekaterina before she left the country, so he decided to visit her apartment.

But what should have been a pleasant conversation and farewell turned into a heated argument. It was then that a horrific criminal act occurred.

Maxim added that his vision blurred because Ekaterina insulted him, calling him ugly and claiming that not even plastic surgery could help his face. Ekaterina also allegedly mocked his financial status, saying he wasn’t wealthy.

She supposedly told him he was poor, bad in bed, and had an ugly personality to match his ugly face. Overwhelmed by the barrage of insults, he caused her loss of life.

He claimed he grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed her repeatedly. Ekaterina allegedly tried to escape but failed because he stabbed her in the neck.

Ekaterina’s parents refuted Maxim’s accusations, asserting that their daughter was not an escort, and the student spreading the rumors was simply envious of their daughter.

In court, Maxim apologized to Ekaterina’s parents and pleaded for mercy. The judge stated that regardless of the insults Ekaterina may have delivered, Maxim had no right to cause her loss of life.

After the trial, Maxim was found guilty. He was sentenced to nine years in confinement.

In addition, he was ordered to pay $8,000 to Ekaterina’s family.