On October 2, convicted crypto fraudster Roman Novak and his wife Anna stepped into a car bound for Hatta, a mountainous Dubai exclave synonymous with luxury. They were never seen alive again.
After concerned relatives raised the alarm, a large-scale search of a 500-square-metre stretch of sand uncovered the remains of Roman, 38, and TV presenter Anna, 37. Their bodies had been wrapped in polyethene bags and buried in concrete, while chemical solvents had been used in a bid to scrub away any traces of DNA. It was then that chilling details about the couple's final moments began to emerge. Russian media reports that Roman and Anna were lured to a rented villa in the belief that they were meeting potential investors, little knowing that they were walking into a terrible trap. Horrifyingly, upon arrival, they were then allegedly tortured side-by-side for access to their crypto wallets.
But once the password was handed over, the kidnappers discovered the accounts were empty, and things allegedly took another dreadful turn. Fontanka news outlet reports: "Novak didn't resist - but there was no cryptocurrency left. The wallet was empty."
In the hours that followed, friends reportedly started receiving haunting text messages from Roman and Anna, who claimed they were "stuck in the mountains on the Oman border" and needed £152,000 as a matter of urgency. Not long afterwards, all contact ceased. Having failed to come up with the ransom money, Roman and Anna were allegedly stabbed before being placed opposite each other so that each would watch the other one die. This grim ending feels a world away from the lavish life the couple had enjoyed.
Roman, who was originally from the Russian city of Saint Petersburg, was the founder of cryptocurrency transfer platform Fintopio, which saw significant investment of around $500 million (£378 million) following its 2023 launch. However, back in October abruptly closed for an "operational review", leaving users without access to their funds.
The Mail Online reports that Roman had previously been sentenced in 2020 to six years in a penal colony after he was found guilty of large-scale financial deceit. After Roman was released on parole, he, Anna and their two young children started a new life in Dubai.
At the time of the shocking double killing, Roman was once again under investigation, this time around for allegedly stealing a sum exceeding £38 million from investors under the pretence of business development. But while cracks may have been starting to show in their fresh start overseas, Roman's Instagram account paints a far more idyllic picture, showing off their dreamy holidays to Italy and Disneyland, and taste for yachts, swish cars and private jets.
Roman also regularly spoke of his love for Anna, whom he referred to as his "Lady Star" and his "power". Back in May, Roman shared a couple's snap of the pair posing outside Rome's Trevi Fountain, marking 17 years together. Reflecting on their time together, Roman wrote: "17 years together. 9 years since we threw a coin in this fountain. And guess what... we came back. Like a sequel. With better outfits and the same love (plus a lot of grey hairs)
"She still looks at me like I'm the main character. I still look at her like she's the plot twist I never deserved. Rome didn't change much. We did. But in all the best ways."
The year before, Roman turned to fairytale imagery to describe their dynamic, telling Anna: "You are a real Disney princess who tamed her monster." In another poignant post, dated April 2024, Roman declared, "And they lived happily ever after. Lucky to have met you once!"
Anna was also fond of sharing loved-up couples' snaps. One of her posts, which featured photographs from a trip to Bali, was captioned: "'We are more together than apart', my parents often say, and this phrase has long been in my soul. I hope someday I say this about you [Roman]. I love you to the moon and back. Thank you for everything."
It's understood that Anna's father and stepmother have since flown over to Dubai to retrieve Roman and Anna's kids. This couple's bodies will now be repatriated to Russia for forensic examination and burial.
Three people have been arrested in Saint Petersburg in connection with the murders. This includes 53-year-old former police officer Konstantin Shakht, who investigators believe could have arranged the hit. Two suspects have confessed to the killing, while Shakht denies all charges.