The mother of Zlatkov wanted to perform a ritual, while his father opposed it and the two had different wishes for the young man’s funeral, according to investigators.
Makulev and Zlatkov were shot by Kalushev, each with a single bullet to the head, before he took his own life, an autopsy determined.
Following a medical examiner’s report, a prosecutor from the Vratsa District Prosecutor’s Office has authorized the release of the bodies of 15-year-old Alexander Makulev, 22-year-old Nikolai Zlatkov, and Ivalio Kalushev, allowing their families to proceed with funeral arrangements, according to reports.
The bodies had been held as prosecutors requested additional forensic analysis to establish the sequence of events leading to the deaths. Results from that analysis are still pending. The three men were discovered February 8 in a camper van near Mount Okolchitsa.
Investigators have determined that Kalushev shot Makulev and Zlatkov, each once in the head, before turning the gun on himself.
Due to the fact that Zlatkov’s parents are separated but both are legal heirs, they were notified via electronic message to clarify the process of releasing the body. The parents reportedly disagreed on funeral arrangements. Investigators say the mother of Nikolai Zlatkov wished to perform a ritual, while the father opposed the idea. It remains unclear how the dispute will be resolved.
The case underscores the complexities that can arise in investigations involving multiple deaths and conflicting family wishes.
