The skeleton of a suspected 'failed Houdini' has been found handcuffed to a tree in Russia two years after he went missing.
Ivan Klyucharev, 30, was last seen in May 2017 and a major search had failed to locate him until his remains were found in Shatura, 80 miles from Moscow.
Russian police say their main theory is that the hiker and survival skills fanatic tried to recreate a Harry Houdini escape trick, but failed to pull it off and died in the forest.
However detectives are also examining evidence that he may have died in a bizarre sexual experiment.
They are also examining whether Klyucharev could have been murdered and the crime scene faked to look like an accident.
The courier's body was found in a lying position, and he was handcuffed to a chain which was secured around a tree.
Nearby was a one-man tent and a camera pointing towards him, as well as five sets of handcuffs, three metal chains, six padlocks and a book on knots.
Police are now examining the camera's memory card and his computer where reports say there is evidence of his interest in BDSM sex.
Some reports say that only his left hand was handcuffed to a chain attached to a tree.
Local resident Eduard Karpov came across the gruesome sight, spotting Klyucharev's skull - still covered by a hoodie - and then uncovering the rest of his skeleton covered by leaves.
The Russian Investigative Committee said: 'He was on the list of missing persons.
'It has been established that the man was a member of a community that practised survival skills in extreme conditions.
'Forensic analysis has been ordered to establish the exact cause of death.'
Committee official Olga Vradiy said: 'Detailed checks are underway aimed at establishing all the circumstances.
'The opinion of forensic experts has been requested in order to understand the true reason for the man's death.'
Klyucharev had earlier hitchhiked across Russia and often went on walking trips to remote spots.
One friend of the dead man aid: 'I can easily imagine that he went to the forest and decided to try his luck this way by chaining himself and throwing away the keys.'
112 Telegram channel said that the man's unnamed mother had been searching for her son for two years but to no avail.
The forest where he was found had previously been searched several times in vain.
