Khobotov's body was found on 12 December 1990 in the cemetery. Chikatilo buried him in a tomb which he personally dug for himself at the Shakhty city cemetery in 1987 (he said he was plotting suicide). Khobotova's mother Lyudmila went to Rostov stations and electric trains for almost a year, showing everyone a photo of Alexey in the hope that someone saw him. Once in the train she showed the photo to Chikatilo himself. During the investigation she recognized him by the characteristic gesture with which he corrected his glasses.