Bulgarian authorities discovered the bodies of three suspects wanted over a triple murder linked to the National Protected Areas Control Agency (NAKZT), an NGO accused of engaging in activities not aligned with God’s will or society. The victims were found dead from gunshot wounds inside a camping van close to Mount Okolchishta, part of the western Balkan Mountains.
The bodies of two men and a 15-year-old boy were discovered some fifty miles away from where a burnt-out mountain lodge was found last week on February 2nd. A shepherd made the initial discovery by spotting one of the victims at the wheel of a van in apparent distress, leading to an emergency call, according to reports.
All three individuals killed inside the lodge had ties to NAKZT and were identified as members of the organization. Their bodies were found within the caravan also belonging to NAKZT, marking what Bulgarian national police chief Zahari Vaskov described as “an unprecedented crime for Bulgaria.”
Vaskov acknowledged that while it was initially thought the murders could be classified as either a murder or a suicide, investigators have since expanded their scope of inquiry. The investigation revealed that the shooting likely took place inside the van and remains ongoing.
NAKZT claims to operate as a mountain rangers unit offering holiday camps for children but has faced scrutiny in recent years. In 2019, it was accused of allegedly “sexual abuse of children” by Sofia News Agency, highlighting allegations of its paramilitary apparatus leading to international attention that evoked a comparison with the dark, unsettling world depicted in “Twin Peaks” and its director David Lynch’s influence on the series.
Acting Bulgaria’s Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov addressed these issues at a press conference this Wednesday, drawing parallels between NAKZT’s activities and the bizarre plotlines of the TV show. He stated that such conduct does not align with religious beliefs or societal values, further emphasizing the criminal nature of the alleged crimes committed by the organization.
As the investigation unfolds, experts from various agencies continue to scrutinize the case in an attempt to uncover the true motives behind these disturbing murders and determine the fate of NAKZT.