Andrei Chikatilo
Andrei
Chikatilo, is one of the worst serial killers, he is responsible for
the murders at least 53 people, most of them young boys
and girls under the age of ten. Chikatilo began his murderous
rampage in Russia in 1978 and ended in 1990, only after being
captured by police.
In
December 1978, Chikatilo, a qualified teacher lost his job at
Novoshaktinsk Technical school after sever staff cutbacks so he
moved on to Shakhti Technical School.
On
December 22, he follows 9 year old Lena Zakotnova and lures her to
his house, his teaching skills meant he was able to befriend the
little girl easily. Yet at his house in Mezhevoi Pereulok, Shakhti
the kindly man turns into a monster behind the locked doors. He
jumped on top of the frightened girl as she screamed for her life.
He covered her mouth and began tearing at her clothes. He tore off
her underwear and rubbed his genitals against her. But for some
reason he failed to get an erection even though he wanted to rape
the frightened little girl. This inability to get an erection made
the anger in him rise, he began tearing at he before penetrating her
with a finger. He saw the blood trickle out of her vagina as he
broke her hymen, and the pleasure he felt at that moment gave him an
immediate orgasm, one, he says was the most pleasurable and
strongest he ever felt.
At that moment he knew, fondling and rape was not what he was after, he needed the sight of a victim's blood. So he retrieved the pocket knife he carried and thrust it into the young girl's stomach. The pain and agony also added to Chikatilo's pleasure. His impotence also subsided with each thrust of the knife, it was the pleasure he had lust for over the previous years of fondling and sexually assaulting students and other children.
Chikatilo began to feel through the youngster's body with his hands, he tore open her chest cavity to get at the blood and organs which inflamed his pleasure further. After sometime he put his hands around the girls throat and squeezed the last glimmer of life out of her.
Then the reality of the deed came down heavily on Chikatilo. In front of him on the floor was a barely recognized girl, her organs and blood were everywhere, and he also was covered in her blood. After the panic subsided he regained his composure and knew he must get rid of the body. He covered the little girls corpse with the remains of her clothes and carried her out to the empty land across the way. He dumped her body in the nearby Grushevka River, where it would be found two days later.
Authorities questioned many men over the attack on Lena, including Chikatilo, however Aleksandr Kravchenko was charged and sentenced for the girl's murder and was executed in 1984. It was only later when Chikatilo confesses to the girl's murder did authorities realize they had killed the wrong man. The confession is spine-tingling as he discusses killing for the first time:
I
had bought a little house on Border Lane in Shakhti. I was planning
to fix the place up and put in a garden. . . . I don't remember the
exact date but it was an evening at the end of December 1978. I got
off at the Grushevka Bridge streetcar stop, the one nearest the
house on Border Lane. It was late in the day and getting dark. I
started heading toward my house. To my surprise I noticed a girl of
about eleven or twelve with a school case who was walking in the
same direction I was. For a little while we walked side by side down
the dark, unlit street by the river. I struck up a conversation with
the girl. I remember she said she was going to see a friend.
When we came near the tall reeds that grow by the river and were a distance from the nearest houses, an irresistible urge to have sexual relations with that girl came over me. I don't know what happened to me, but I literally began shaking. I stopped the girl and threw her down into the reeds. She tried to struggle free but I was literally in a state of animal frenzy, I couldn't stop myself, I pulled off her pants and began thrusting my hands into her sexual organs. At the same time, to keep her quiet, I began squeezing her throat. I began ripping at her sexual organs. I had an orgasm while lying on top of her and tearing her sexual organs. I did not have intercourse as such with her. The sperm either went between her legs or on her stomach.
When I realized the girl was dead, I dressed her and threw her body in the river. Then I threw her school case in too. I washed my hands and put my clothes in order. Then I returned to the streetcar stop, and went home . . .
This
was my first crime and I sincerely regretted it . . . What happened
that night made a very strong impression on me. I can even say that
I don't remember the moment when I ejaculated. All I remember
clearly is that tearing at her sexual organs caused me a tremendous
sensation. I can't describe it any more precisely, but it was real.
I was in some kind of frenzy, ruled by some sort of bestial passion.
It was only when I had regained some calm that I realized that she
was dead. A few days later I was called in for questioning. The
police asked me where I was on the night of the murder. I said I had
been at home and my wife verified this. I was aware that someone
else was arrested for this crime.
After that first murder I think my psyche underwent certain definite changes. I was haunted by the image of my hands tearing the girl's organs apart, I couldn't get it out of my mind.
In 1981, after several more reports regarding Chikatilo's inappropriate behaviour towards his students he is forced to resign his post. He does get another job soon after as a supply clerk at the Rostovnerud factory in Shakhti.
His murderous appetite surfaces again, and his compulsion to kill found him eager to pick up a lady for the evening or better still a young girl, when he came across seventeen year old Larisa Tkanchenko on September 3, 1981. The young girl accepted the older man's invitation to go for a walk and she knew he was after more from her than just a friendly chat. Chikatilo told Larisa that he knew of a quiet area out of the way in a nearby "Relaxation Station" an area with restaurants, cafes etc.
But the killer knows that normal consensual sex will not give him the pleasure he seeks. He throws her to the ground and attacks her by punching her in the face and chest, to stiffle her screams he pushed dirt into her mouth and then strangled her into unconsciousness. As her life is extinguished Chikatilo ejaculates over Larisa's body and bites off one of her nipples in the attack. He then dumps her body in the River Don, where it is quickly found the next day.
Lyubov Biryuk was his next victim. The thirteen year old was murdered on 12 June 1982 as she walked along a wooded path to Donskoi Village. Her body was found on June 27, it contained the frenzied number of stab wounds that is a part of Chikatilo's MO. Most of the wounds are to the breasts and she was also stabbed in the eye sockets.
Chikatilo now begins to kill more frequently, usually this body count would be a surety for being caught. Most kills escalate in numbers as they begin to lose their grip on reality. But for Chikatilo he would kill for many years to come.
On July 25, 1982 he kills his next victim, 14 year old Lyuba Volubuyeva in Krasnodar where Chikatilo is taking a hiatus. Her body is located on August 7 the same year.
Then Chikatilo changes his victimology. His next victim is a male. Nine-year old Oleg Pozhidayev is killed on August 13, 1982, his body is never recovered.
The killer began mutilating the genitals of his victims. On girls he would gouge the breasts, and destroy the vagina, uterus and bladder or abdomen. On boys, he would mutilate the penis, scrotum and anus.
Olga Kuprina, 16 years old, crosses the path of Chikatilo and is murdered on August 16, 1982. Her body is found near the village of Kamenolomni.
Back at home in Shakhti, Chikatilo murders Ira Karabelnikova, a nineteen year old woman on September 8. Her body is found on September 20.
Only a week after Ira's murder Chikatilo strikes again, this time his victims is fifteen year old Sergei Kuzmin. The boy's body was not located until January 12, 1983.
Ten year old Olya Stalmachenok was the next to die at Chikatilo's hands. She was murdered on December 11, 1982 in Novocherkassk.
1983 was an even bigger year for Chikatilo with his victims increasing. Sometime after the 18 of June, Chikatilo murdered 15 year old Laura Sarkisyan, her body is never recovered and she is the first person of eight murdered by Chikatilo this year.
Ira Dunenkova, 13 year old was the next to die. Ira's older sister had been a lover of Chikatilo. Ira's mutilated body was found on August 8, 1983 in Aviators' Park near Rostov Airport. Also the same week in July, Chikatilo claimed his twelfth victim. 24 year old Lyuda Kutsyuba is murdered and dumped in the country side outside of Shakhti, where her body is found on March 12, 1984.
Again and again Chikatilo murdered young males and females. August 8, seven year old Igor Gudkov is murdered and left in Aviators' Park where he is found on August 28. 22 year old Valya Chuchulina is murdered in September, and dumped outside Shakhti only to be found on November 27.
The next body is found on October 8, yet Chikatilo cannot recall who the victim was, and police are unable to establish her identity.
On October 27, Chikatilo takes his next victim. 19 year old Vera Shevkun is murdered and dumped in an industrial area outside of Shakhti, where she is found on October 30.
Chikatilo murders 14 year old Sergei Markov on December 27. His body is not found until the following April 1, in vacant wasteland outside of Novocherkassk.
Again
the new year sees Chikatilo increase his number of killings. Fifteen
people are murdered by Chikatilo this year.
The first murder occurred on January 9, 1984, when Chikatilo murdered 17 year old Natalya Shalapinia and again dumps her body at Aviators' Park.
On February 21 Chikatilo murdered Marta Ryabyenko. She is aged 44 and is out of the usual pattern for Chikatilo but nonetheless is one of his victims. She is found the next day. Within the past 24 hours police have opened a case in the theft of property by Chikatilo.
March 27 gives the police their first break in the case for the one person they believe is responsible for the murders. Beside the body of ten year old Dima Ptashnikov who was murdered three days earlier, a footprint of the killer is found. Yet Chikatilo would continue to kill for six more years.
Two months later during May, Chikatilo kills a mature woman again, this time the victim is 32 year old Tanya Petrosyan, one of his former lovers. he also murders her young daughter, eleven year old Sveta. Sveta's body is found on July 5, and Tanya's remains are located on July 27.
Late in June, 22 year old Yelena Bakulina is next to die at the hands of Chikatilo. Followed by thirteen year old Dima Illarionov. His body is found on August 12 and Yelena's body is found on the 27 August.
On July 19 Anna Lemesheva aged nineteen is murdered, her body found on July 25. By this time Chikatilo had murdered again. Sveta Tsana, 20 years old is murdered and dumped in Aviators' Park where she remains until being found on September 9.
Chikatilo moves jobs and begins work in Rostov, in the office of Sevkavenergoavtomatika on August 1. Which is near Aviator's Park where the next day he murdered Natasha Golosovskaya aged 16.
Only five days later he struck again. Lyuda Alekeseva, 17 is murdered and dumped into the River Don, in Moscow. On August 10, her defiled body is found on the banks of the River.
During a trip to Tashkent during the second week of August, Chikatilo kills another unknown victim. Then a few days later, 12 year old Akmaral Seidealieva is murdered.
On August 28 eleven year old boy Sasha Chepel is murdered and dumped in the River Don, where he is found on September 2.
Another victim is dumped in Aviators' Park, this time 24 year old Irina Luchinskaya is murdered and left to be found the next day.
On September Police Inspector Aleksandr Zanasovski detains Chikatilo for questioning after following the man who displayed unusual behaviour and aroused the officer's suspicions. The officer question Chikatilo about his whereabouts around the time of the murder of ten year old Dima Ptashnikov murder earlier in the year. At the same time police begin to put together a portfolio on 23 connected murders and a possible suspect - eventhough the true number of victims was closer to 32.
On December 12 Chikatilo is put on trial for the thefts he was charged with in February. He sentence is time already served since September and is released immediately.
The experience in jail may have had a profound effect on Chikatilo, he apparently did not kill for over 8 months. August 1, 1985 is the next time he kills.
During a business trip with his new job as an engineer at Novocerkassk's Elektovonozostritelny Factory he murdered 18 year old Natalya Pokhilstova and dumped her body near Domodyedovo Airport, where se is discovered two days later. Police know she is another victim of the "Rostov Connection".
On August 27 Chikatilo murdered 18 year old Irina Gulyayeva, and she is found the next day.
Police begin in earnest to find the killer. Yet it is believed that Chikatilo does not kill from August 28, 1985 to May 1987. A long period of dormancy that leaves many questions.
The next killing was on May 16, 1987. Thirteen year old Oleg Makerenkov is murdered near the village of Revda near Siberia. The remains stay undisturbed until Chikatilo leads police to them after his arrest.
On July 29, Ivan Bilovetski is murdered in Zaporozhye. The twelve year old's body is found two days later.
Sixteen year old Yura Tereshonok is murder on September 15 neat St Petersberg (Leningrad). His body is never recovered.
Again there is a break in Chikatilo's murders. Unlike many killers he appears to be slowing down, this may be because he had passed the height of the passion of the murder and mutilations. Most killers are caught at their peak, where their murders have escalated to a frenzied period, Chikatilo on the other hand appears to have passed his and begins to slow down.
The next victim murdered at Krasney Sulin in April 1988 is never identified, her remains are found on April 6.
On May 14, 1988 Chikatilo murdered nine-year old Lyosha Voronko near the Ilovaisk Railway station and is found later the same day.
Exactly two months later Chikatilo murders again, this time 15 year old Zhenya Muratov is killed near Donleskhoz. His body is not found until April 11, 1989.
In March, Chikatilo murders 16 year old Tatyana Ryzhova, in his daughter's residence in Shakhti. Her body is found a week later, with the legs and head cut off.
Eight year old Sasha Dyakonov is Chikatilo's next victim, the boy was murdered on May 11, the day after his birthday and is not found until July 14.
On June 20, ten year old Lyosha Moiseyev is murdered near Vladimir. His body is discovered on September 6.
The murders begin to take a toll on Chikatilo, the next victim, ten year old Alyshoa Khobotov, on August 28, is buried in a grave Chikatilo had dug for himself. On December 12, 1990 shortly after his arrest, Chikatilo leads police to the boy's makeshift grave.
A month later on January 14, 1990 Chikatilo murdered Andrei Kravchenko and dumped the eleven year old in Shakhti, where he is found on February 19.
On March 7, ten year old Yaroslav Makarov is Chikatilo's next victim. The boy's body is found dumped in Rostov Botanic Gardens the next day.
Lyubov Zuyeva, 31 years old is murdered during April near Donleskhoz Station and is left undiscovered until August 24.
On July 28 Vitya Petrov is murdered by Chikatilo. The 12 year old's body is also dumped in the Botanic Garden's and is left undiscovered for two months.
Ivan Fomin, aged eleven is murdered on August 14 by Chikatilo at the river-beach of Novocherkassk. Three days later he is found.
On October 17, sixteen year old Vadim Gromov is murdered near the Donleskhoz station. His body is found only four days later
October 30 Vitya Tishchenko joins the rising number of victims of Chikatilo's blood thirst. The sixteen year old is murdered in Shakhti and found three days later.
The last murder was of 22 year old Sveta Korostik on November 6 near Donleskhoz Station.
The end was near for Chikatilo, he was seen by an officer after the last murder. But when stopped and had his information papers checked the officer let him go.
On November 13 as officers find Korostik's body Police Chief Mikhail Fetisov is told of the officer stopping Chikatilo on the day of the murder. Fetisov remembers the man's name from his arrest in 1984 for theft and questioning about the murder of Ptashnikov.
Many clues began to slot into place. Checks with his employers found he was not at work on many of the days of murders. The Chief decides to put Chikatilo on 24 hour surveillance.
On November 20 Chikatilo is arrested. Plain-clothes detectives picked him up and took him to the police station. In searching his bag they found Vaseline, rope, dirty towels and a kitchen knife.
Andrei was searched and there was a cut on his finger, and his genitals had abrasions on them. Andrei denied to how it happened, but when his bag was searched his kitchen knife was found.
Dr. Bukhanovsky, a leading Russian psychologist was called into to interview Chikatilo after helping police with a vague profile of the man they were seeking. Bukhanovsky questioned Chikatilo and he confessed to the murders. Chikatilo told how he got sexual gratification from murdering and mutilation, and he also told of cannibalism. Chikatilo admitted to at least 53 murders and also led police to some undiscovered victims.
Chikatilo was found legally sane and sentenced to die for the 53 murders he was known to have committed. On February 21, 1994, Chikatilo lost an eleventh-hour appeal for clemency and was taken from his prison cell and marched to the execution room. Chikatilo was made to kneel as his sentence was read. The executioner drew a Makarov automatic and fired a single 9-grain bullet into the back of the serial killer's head. Unlike his victims, Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo died quickly and mercifully.
Bibliography
Red Ripper - Peter Conradi
Page By Korey Sifuentes