Ep. 118 | The Most Prolific Serial Killer You've Never Heard Of | The Chessboard Killer
Summary
This episode details the crimes of Alexander Pichuskin, the "Chessboard Killer," who murdered 64 victims to fill the squares of a chessboard. Born in Moscow, Pichuskin’s life unraveled after a childhood head injury, leading him to stalk and kill homeless men and acquaintances in Bitsevsky Park. Despite police negligence and survivor testimonies, he evaded capture until his ego drove him to confess on national television, aiming to surpass notorious killer Andrei Chikatilo.
Topics discussed
Intro and Grooms supplement sponsor
Introduction to the Chessboard Killer case
Surfshark VPN sponsor segment
Soviet chess culture and Bitsevsky Park
Alexander Pichuskin's childhood and head injury
Behavioral changes and grandfather's influence
First murder of Mikhail and police inaction
Inspiration from Chikatilo and first serial killings
Modus operandi: Sewer disposal and victim profile
Survivors Maria Varysheva and Mikhail Lobov
Lola Blankets sponsor segment
Escalation to open-air murders and arrogance
Murder of coworker Marina and CCTV evidence
Aura identity protection sponsor segment
Arrest, confession, and 64-victim goal
Trial, verdict, and life sentence
Imprisonment in Polar Owl colony
Outro and final sponsor segments
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