Woman found dead after being buried alive up to her neck in Russia with her head ravaged by animals

Woman who was found dead a week after being buried alive up to her neck in Russia was sitting in lotus position with her head ravaged by animals, it’s revealed as cops probe ‘religious’ element to death

  • A woman was found dead in a Yuntolovsky reserve forest near St Petersburg
  • It was likely the woman was alive at the time she was dug into the ground
  • Law enforcement said the woman had been unable to free herself once buried 

A woman ‘buried alive with only her head above the ground’ was sitting upright and cross legged as if in the lotus position with her head ravaged by animals, it has been revealed.

The mystery victim, aged around 40, was left to die a week ago in a Yuntolovsky reserve forest near St Petersburg, Russia.

Police are investigating whether the burial was entirely criminal or if it may have had some religious or ritual meaning.

Some reports indicate the burial is reminiscent of an ancient Russian execution tradition which was carried out on women who murdered their husbands.

Wounds to her face are believed to have been from birds or other animals after her death

A woman ‘buried alive with only her head above the ground’ in a Yuntolovsky reserve forest near St Petersburg, Russia, was sitting upright and cross legged as if in the lotus position with her head ravaged by animals, it has been revealed

It was likely the woman was alive at the time she was dug into the ground. Pictured: The hole in which the victim was buried

It was likely the woman was alive at the time she was dug into the ground. Pictured: The hole in which the victim was buried

Wounds to her face are believed to have been from birds or other animals after her death. 

Gold chains and a pendant were found in her pockets and socks, according to reports.

It was likely the woman was alive at the time she was dug into the ground.

Law enforcement said the woman had been unable to free herself once buried. 

Images from the gruesome scene were revealed by Mash online media which has close links to law enforcement. 

Police are investigating whether the burial was entirely criminal or if it may have had some religious or ritual meaning. Pictured: The forest where she was found

Police are investigating whether the burial was entirely criminal or if it may have had some religious or ritual meaning. Pictured: The forest where she was found

The woman's body was found 500 metres (1,640 feet) away from a main road linking the suburb of Yuntolovo with St Petersburg. Pictured: The road near which the woman's body was found

The woman’s body was found 500 metres (1,640 feet) away from a main road linking the suburb of Yuntolovo with St Petersburg. Pictured: The road near which the woman’s body was found

A 36-year-old man walking in the forest discovered the macabre remains, police said. 

Sources told Fontanka news agency that the woman may have died from strangulation, but further checks are underway. 

Her corpse had been sent for an autopsy.

The woman was found semi-buried in a forest between St Petersburg and suburb Yuntolovo, home to more than 10,000 people.

The body was located 500 metres from a highway linking the city to the suburb.