Bulgarian authorities are investigating the deaths of six men discovered at two separate locations in the country’s remote northwestern mountains, in what prosecutors increasingly describe as a possible murder-suicide case with links to a self-styled spiritual group.
The killings, carried out with gunshots to the head, have stunned the nation and prompted comparisons in local media to a dark thriller, with the events dubbed “Bulgaria’s Twin Peaks” because of their isolation and unresolved motives.
Police first responded on February 2 to the Petrohan mountain lodge, a secluded property roughly 62 kilometres from the nearest Serbian border crossing. Inside, officers found three men dead from apparent close-range gunshot wounds.
Forensic analysis later indicated the wounds may have been self-inflicted, though investigators have not ruled out foul play. The circumstances surrounding the positioning of the bodies and weapons are still under review.
The victims were identified as Ivaylo Ivanov, 49, Detcho Vassilev, 45, and Plamen Statev, 51. All three were members of a wildlife non-governmental organisation that trained rangers to protect forests from illegal logging and poaching under agreements with the Environment Ministry between 2022 and 2025.
Just six days later, on February 8, officers discovered three more bodies at a second location nearby. The dead included the lodge owner and cave explorer Ivaylo Kalushev, 51, along with a 15-year-old boy, Alexander Makulev, and 22-year-old Nickolay Zlatkov.
The trio were found inside Kalushev’s camper van, each with fatal gunshot wounds to the head. The proximity of the scenes and relationships among the deceased have strengthened suspicions that the deaths are connected.
A short security camera video released by prosecutors showed four of the six men parting amicably on February 1, days before the first deaths. The footage has raised doubts among investigators about whether the victims had planned suicide.
Officials have since focused attention on Kalushev, who had developed a reputation as a cave explorer and wilderness guide before presenting himself as a Buddhist spiritual teacher with a circle of followers.
The head of the National Police Directorate, Zachary Vaskov, said investigators believed the first group of victims may have belonged to what he described as “a secret society that bares resemblances to a sect.”
Friends and relatives have given conflicting accounts about Kalushev’s influence. Some described him as charismatic and devoted to nature conservation, while others alleged manipulative and controlling behaviour toward young followers.
Allegations of sexual exploitation have further darkened the case. The investigative website bird.bg published an interview with a former follower who claimed Kalushev abused him during hypnotherapy sessions starting when he was 14 or 15.
The former member, now 31, described the group as “definitely a sect,” alleging psychological pressure and isolation from family. He also said he warned relatives of another young boy who had frequent contact with Kalushev.
According to his account, that child later became the 22-year-old found dead in the camper van alongside Kalushev.
Past concerns had reportedly reached authorities. In 2024, the grandparents of an eight-year-old boy requested an investigation with the State Agency for Child Protection over the child’s participation in Kalushev’s “youth rangers” programme.
The agency examined the complaint but eventually dropped the case, a decision now under scrutiny as questions mount over whether earlier intervention could have prevented tragedy.
Lawmakers have asked prosecutors for a detailed briefing on possible institutional failures and whether warning signs were missed. The prosecution submitted a report to parliament on Friday addressing those concerns.
Meanwhile, forensic experts continue reconstructing the timeline and testing weapons recovered from both sites. Authorities have not yet determined who fired the shots or whether any victims were coerced.
As the investigation unfolds, residents in the sparsely populated mountain region remain shaken. What began as a routine winter patrol has evolved into one of Bulgaria’s most mysterious and disturbing criminal cases in recent years.
Officials say answers may take weeks, but families of the dead are already demanding clarity, accountability and justice.