The missing American who'd traveled to Ukraine years ago to aid Russian separatists in Donbas was found dead in the country's war-torn eastern region. Between 2014 and 2017, Bentley " a self-proclaimed communist from Austin, Texas " fought alongside pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. Conflicting reports suggest Bentley was abducted by Russian soldiers and killed, possibly because they thought he was an American spy. On social media, unsubstantiated claims circulated saying Bentley was raped prior to his murder, and was either shot eight times in the head or decapitated.