Who is Alexander Pichushkin? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Alexander Yuryevich Pichushkin

Age: 50 Years, 50 Year Old Males

Serial Killers Russian Men

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1

What is Alexander Pichushkin known for?

Alexander Pichushkin, also known as the "Chessboard Killer," is a Russian serial killer convicted of killing at least 49 people in Moscow between 1992 and 2006.
2

How was Alexander Pichushkin caught?

Alexander Pichushkin was caught in 2006 after a survivor reported an attack to the police and his DNA was matched to evidence found at the crime scenes.
3

What was Alexander Pichushkin's modus operandi?

Alexander Pichushkin's modus operandi was to befriend his victims before luring them to a secluded location, usually a park, where he would then bludgeon them to death with a hammer.
4

Was Alexander Pichushkin mentally ill?

While some experts have suggested that Alexander Pichushkin may have had psychopathic tendencies, he was found to be mentally competent to stand trial and was convicted of his crimes.
5

Is Alexander Pichushkin still alive?

Alexander Pichushkin is serving a life sentence in a Russian prison and is not eligible for parole.

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Crimes

Alexander Pichushkin committed his first murder in 1992, when he pushed a child out of the window. Later, he said that just like his first love, his first murder was also unforgettable.

In the early 2000s, he began murdering again. He started killing people in Moscow’s Bittsevsky Park. He used to target the elderly and the destitute, by luring them with offers of free vodka to drink at his dead dog’s grave. He used to repeatedly hit his victims’ heads with a hammer. He would also push a vodka bottle into the gaping wound in their skulls, which became his trademark. Often, in order to conceal the bodies, he threw his victims into a sewer, some while they were still alive.

His targets also included younger men and women. Later he claimed that killing his victims made him feel like God since he could decide whether they would live or not. His brutality increased as time progressed and his confidence grew. He eventually left the bodies in the open to be discovered, and also left broken vodka bottles sticking out of the skulls of some of his victims.

During the spring of 2006, he killed Marina Moskalyova, who would be his last victim. Her body was found with a metro ticket in its possession, which led authorities to review surveillance tapes from the Moscow metro system. She was seen walking on the platform along with Pichushkin.

He was arrested on 16th June 2006, and was eventually convicted in October the following year. He was found guilty of 49 murders and three attempted murders. However, he confessed to have killed eleven more.

He was housed in a glass cage during his trial for his own protection. Judge Vladimir Usov sentenced him to life imprisonment with 15 years in solitary confinement. During his confession, which was aired on television, he claimed that his need to kill was similar to other people’s need for food.

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Personal Life

Alexander Pichushkin was born on 9th April 1974 in Moscow. His parents divorced when he was quite young and he grew up without a father figure to guide him. His childhood was a difficult and troubled one. At an early age, he suffered a head injury and brain damage. He was then transferred from a mainstream school to a school for the disabled, as he was being bullied. Later it was found that this injury had damaged a significant part of his brain which led to tendencies of aggression.

Pichushkin was quite close to his maternal grandfather who recognized his intelligence and introduced him to chess. He became an exceptional player and found a way to channel his aggression by dominating the chessboard. The death of his beloved grandfather affected him deeply and he became aggressive and violent towards others soon after.

Facts About Alexander Pichushkin

Alexander Pichushkin, also known as the Chessboard Killer, was a chess enthusiast who aimed to fill all squares of a chessboard by committing murders.

Pichushkin kept a detailed notebook in which he documented each of his murders, showing a meticulous and methodical approach to his crimes.

Despite his heinous actions, Pichushkin was known to have a friendly demeanor and was well-liked by his neighbors and colleagues prior to his arrest.

Pichushkin's case sparked intense interest in criminal psychology and the study of serial killers, leading to further research and understanding in the field.

Following his arrest, Pichushkin expressed remorse for his crimes and cooperated with authorities in revealing the locations of his victims, providing closure to their families.

Alexander Pichushkin Biography

You wanted to know

What is Alexander Pichushkin known for?

How was Alexander Pichushkin caught?

What was Alexander Pichushkin's modus operandi?

Was Alexander Pichushkin mentally ill?

Is Alexander Pichushkin still alive?