SAN FRANCISCO, CA — In a horrifying turn of events, a 37-year-old man has been charged with murder after allegedly slashing a man’s throat inside a South of Market hotel room just a day before Halloween. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office confirmed the suspect, Sergii Sakhno, was arraigned on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty.
Authorities say the brutal attack took place on October 30 at a hotel on Seventh Street. The victim suffered two deep cuts to the throat—so severe they reached the bone—severing major arteries, veins, the trachea, and even the spine.
In an apparent attempt to cover up the crime, the suspect allegedly tried to clean the blood-soaked room with bleach. When officers arrived around 4:30 p.m. following reports of an unresponsive person, they were met with a strong odor of bleach and a ransacked room. Inside the bathroom, they discovered the victim’s lifeless body, partially positioned in the shower.
The investigation quickly led authorities to Sakhno, who was found in possession of the victim’s phone when he was arrested the next day in an unrelated incident. Prosecutors have not disclosed a possible motive, and the case remains under active investigation.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Those who can assist are encouraged to contact the San Francisco Police Department Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or text TIP411 with “SFPD” at the beginning of the message.
As this case unfolds, the shocking details of the gruesome murder have left the community reeling. The pursuit of justice continues as investigators work to uncover the full story behind this chilling crime.
