A Russian convicted murderer who was recruited by the private military company Wagner and released from prison to fight in Ukraine has been arrested days after returning home on suspicion of murdering an elderly woman, reports say CNN.

Ivan Rossomakhin was already a repeat offender when he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for murder in 2020. He was released last year after being recruited by Wagner to fight in Ukraine.

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin recruited many prisoners like Rossomakhin, promising them pardons and other benefits in exchange for a contract.

Rossomakhin worked for Wagner in Ukraine for an unspecified period (the usual contract is six months) before returning to his hometown of Novy Burets, Kirov Oblast, this month.

Almost immediately, according to local reports, trouble arose. He was arrested for five days after a series of threats.

His presence led to a town hall meeting on Monday that was filmed on local television.

One of the residents, Halyna Sapozhnikova, said that Rossomakhin was seen holding a pitchfork, an ax and a knife, threatening to kill everyone.

The head of the district police, Vadym Varankin, said at the meeting that Rossomakhin was causing trouble and he would deal with him.

But before that happened, an elderly woman was killed in the city. Rossomakhin was detained on suspicion of murder, but no official charges were brought against him.