Bulgaria Grapples with Unprecedented Crime as ‘Twin Peaks’ Mystery Deepens
Bulgarian authorities are investigating a series of interconnected deaths linked to a controversial NGO, prompting comparisons to the eerie atmosphere of the television series “Twin Peaks.” The case, unfolding in the western Balkan Mountains, involves a triple murder followed by the discovery of three bodies belonging to suspects in the original killings.
The bodies of the three suspects – two men and a 15-year-old boy – were found Sunday in a camping van near Mount Okolchitsa, according to national police chief Zahari Vaskov. The discovery came approximately 50 miles from the site of a burnt-out mountain lodge where three men were found murdered on February 2nd. A shepherd alerted authorities after discovering a person apparently deceased at the wheel of the van, according to reports.
All six men involved – both the victims of the initial triple murder and the three suspects found dead – were associated with the National Protected Areas Control Agency (NAKZT). Vaskov described the situation as “an unprecedented crime, at least for Bulgaria,” emphasizing the unusual nature of the case.
Investigators believe the gunshots that killed the suspects occurred inside the van, and are exploring all possible scenarios, including murder and suicide. “Whether What we have is a murder, a suicide – we are pursuing all possible scenarios,” Vaskov said.
NAKZT, which presents itself as a mountain ranger organization that also runs youth camps, has been the subject of scrutiny. Two years ago, the NGO faced a criminal complaint alleging “sexual abuse of children” and was found to possess what authorities described as a “paramilitary” apparatus.
Bulgaria’s acting prosecutor general, Borislav Sarafov, has suggested that NAKZT’s activities were not “in conformity with God’s will, or the interests of society, the country and of children.” The prosecutor’s comments, along with the bizarre sequence of events, prompted a comparison to the plot of “Twin Peaks,” a show known for its unsettling mysteries and exploration of dark undercurrents in a seemingly idyllic community.
Further complicating the investigation, authorities have been focusing on Ivaylo Kalushev, identified as a suspect in the case. According to reports from BNT News, Kalushev sent a message to his mother on Sunday evening, appearing to say goodbye. His phones were subsequently switched off, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Kalushev is the owner of the former Petrohan lodge where the initial triple murder took place.
Investigators have reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting Kalushev gathered minors, primarily boys aged 9 to 12, at the lodge and that sexual offenses may have occurred, potentially even outside of Bulgaria. Dozens of parental authorizations allowing Kalushev to take children abroad have been seized as part of the investigation. Autopsy reports indicate the men found at the lodge were shot by a third party, and none were holding weapons.
The Minister of the Interior has ordered an investigation into past reports related to the lodge, covering the period from 2022 onward, as authorities attempt to unravel the full scope of the alleged crimes and the motives behind the escalating violence.
