The Usoltsev Family Vanishing: A Chilling New Theory Uncovered
A New Theory in the Usoltsev Family Disappearance
On September 28, 2025, the Usoltsev family—Sergey, 64, Irena, 48, and their five-year-old daughter Arina—set out on a routine hiking trip in Kuturchinskoye Belogorye near Krasnoyarsk. They were expected back within a few hours, but they vanished without a trace. Over three months later, their fate remains a mystery, yet the public’s fascination with the latest updates on the Usoltsev family persists.
Investigations and Theories
Several theories have been explored. On January 8, 2026, Yana Syrymbetova, an official representative of the Investigative Committee, stated that investigators believe the family might have fallen into one of the deep caves in the area. These natural traps are vertical shafts about two meters in diameter, descending up to 32 meters deep, with a network of passages extending up to 70 meters. The main danger is that these caves can be almost invisible, especially at night, under moss, or in bad weather.
Rescuers discovered two such cave entrances during their operation, but the Usoltsevs were not found inside. The problem is compounded by the lack of accurate maps of these underground labyrinths. Only old diagrams from the 1960s-80s without geographical coordinates exist, which are unreliable.
Change in Route
This theory intertwines with another interesting discovery. Initially, it was reported that the family was heading to the popular Buratino Rock. However, testimony from another group of hikers, who set out on the trail just 30 minutes apart, refuted this hypothesis—they did not encounter the Usoltsevs either way. Investigators now believe that the family might have changed their route.
The new destination could have been the so-called “wishing stone” near Mount Malvinka—a nondescript triangular boulder shrouded in mystique for tourists, although guides consider it more of a “new attraction” to draw attention. If Irena, who was interested in esoteric practices and places of power, decided to deviate from the beaten path to this stone, the family might have ended up on a more challenging and dangerous route. The combination of an unknown path, worsening weather, and hidden cave pits paints a tragic but plausible picture of an accident.
Escape Theory
During the investigation into the missing Usoltsev family, the theory of their intentional escape abroad surfaced repeatedly. Initially, those following the latest news believed that Sergey, Irena, and Arina were in the USA with Sergey’s eldest son. However, in November 2025, social media and news outlets reported sightings of a similar family in Thailand. According to these reports, the presumed Usoltsevs rented accommodation, kept to themselves, and avoided communication before suddenly disappearing.
Initially, Irena’s son Danil Batalov publicly rejected the possibility of an escape, citing the family’s lack of motive for such a move. However, the young man later admitted that the escape theory might be true.
According to Danil, Sergey behaved strangely shortly before the disappearance. In early September, his stepfather called him, asking about his well-being and income, which was unusual for Usoltsev. Danil believes that Sergey wanted to ensure that “the eldest was okay” before leaving. Danil thinks that someone might have pressured Sergey, possibly “gangsters.”
Batalov believes that his relatives first moved to Mongolia and then crossed the border into Kazakhstan. Where they might have gone from there, the young man cannot even guess. However, he is sure that his loved ones are definitely not in Thailand. According to Danil, Irena never liked this country.
