Report: Gurnee man pleads guilty in evidence tampering case

A Gurnee man has pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence in the slaying of a Russian immigrant, in exchange for a two-year prison sentence and agreeing to testify against an unnamed suspect in the murder case, WBBM Newsradio 780 is reporting.

Ohio police officials said 40-year-old Ermek Abdildaev of Gurnee was convicted after pleading guilty Tuesday.

Abdildaev, also a Russian immigrant, was charged with gross abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering in the slaying of 32-year-old Aleksandr Alferov.

Alferov lived in Cincinnati when he went missing in 2000 along with $27,000 from his bank account.

Authorities last year identified a skeleton found in 2007 in southern Warren County, northeast of Cincinnati, as Alferov's and said he apparently was beaten to death. Prior to his disappearance, Alferov operated a cleaning business in Cincinnati.

Abdildaev was charged Nov. 10 with gross abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering in the case.

Warren County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Bruce McGary told the Dayton Daily News authorities believe they know who and where the unnamed suspect is located, but would not give more details because the investigation is ongoing. After Alferov was identified, police said the Russian mob was possibly connected to the murder.

Abdildaev's attorney tried to get statements his client made to police thrown out. An Ohio judge ruled earlier this month Abdiladaev understood his Miranda rights when he was taken into custody in Gurnee and spoke to police.