A man has been arrested for the murder of his lover after her pet dog led police officers to her dead body.
Arkadiy Antonov allegedly killed the woman, named by local media as Maria Frolenkova, 39, in a fit of rage over her seeing other men, in Russia’s second city of St Petersburg.
Antonov was said to have lost his temper as he and Ms Frolenkova travelled back to the city from her country cottage, after she admitted that she was dating other men she had met online.
He turned off onto a quiet forest road where he allegedly beat Ms Frolenkova to death and covered her body with leaves and branches.
Maria Frolenkova, 39, and her dog Foksa, a corgi, were travelling back to St Petersburg with her boyfriend when she was killed
After Arkadiy Antonov allegedly dumped her body in the woods, he drove Foksa six miles away before throwing the dog out of a car window
Fearing her pet corgi, Foksa, would attract attention to the body, Antonov drove it another six miles before throwing it out of the car and driving off.
Foksa was found by a roadside by police several hours later. Cops said it appeared Foksa wanted them to follow it – and the dog led them straight to its mistress’s body.
Antonov was arrested within hours and now faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted of murder.
Police say Antonov met the divorced mother-of-two on a dating website and they started seeing each other.
He was said to be besotted with Ms Frolenkova, who had a luxurious lifestyle with her own flat, country cottage and upmarket car.
Foksa was said to have run back to the body of its owner with police officers following close behind
After cops found Ms Frolenkova’s body they were able to arrest Antonov within a few hours
Antonov, who had moved to the city from western Russia’s Tver Oblast region to find a better life, took her to restaurants and showered her with gifts.
Ms Frolenkova made it clear that she was not interested in a serious relationship with him but he would not give up.
A police spokesman said: ‘The suspect was detained several hours after the victim’s dead body was discovered. He is in custody.
‘The dog was taken by the victim’s relatives. They will be taking care of it. The investigation is ongoing.’
Ms Frolenkova, who leaves a son and daughter, both still in school, started dating a few years after painful divorce from her husband.