In the shadow of Moscow’s skyline lies Bitsa Park—a serene expanse of greenery by day, but by night, it became a hunting ground for one of Russia’s most prolific serial killers. His name? Alexander Pichushkin. You might know him as The Chessboard Killer or The Bitsa Park Maniac.

Over a decade, Pichushkin embarked on a chilling mission to take a life for every square on a chessboard—64 victims in total. His spree of terror earned him a place among the most infamous serial killers in history. But what led him down this dark path? Let’s start from the beginning.

Born on April 9, 1974, in the industrial city of Mytishchi, just northeast of Moscow, Alexander Pichushkin’s life took a devastating turn at the age of four. A seemingly ordinary accident—a fall from a swing—had catastrophic consequences. The swing struck his head, damaging his frontal cortex.

This injury affected his ability to control impulses and aggression, a pattern that would haunt his life. Bullied for his appearance and struggling in school, young Alexander lashed out violently at his tormentors. Eventually, his mother placed him in a school for children with special needs.

But there was one thing Alexander excelled at: chess. His grandfather, who recognized his talent, became his mentor and took him in to nurture his skills. Chess became his outlet, a way to channel his frustrations. But when his grandfather passed away, Alexander’s life spiraled further.

By the time he was 18, the rage brewing inside Alexander boiled over. His first known victim was a young neighbor—a boy killed because Alexander was jealous of his relationship with a girl. That same girl would later be found dead in Bitsa Park, a chilling prelude to what was to come.

Bitsa Park became his killing ground. Armed with vodka, charm, and a hammer, Pichushkin lured victims to secluded spots. Most were older men, but his victims spanned all ages, including women and children.

Pichushkin’s motive? He once claimed, “For me, life without murder is like life without food for you.” Killing gave him a sense of power—he described it as a “perpetual orgasm” and believed he was a god, deciding when his victims would enter another world.

His preferred method? A hammer to the head. Sometimes, he left vodka bottles wedged in the skulls of his victims—a signature that baffled investigators. On other occasions, he threw his victims into sewage wells, with some surviving the fall.

Despite his brutality, Pichushkin maintained a friendly facade. Many of his victims knew him—they were friends, acquaintances, even neighbors. Ten victims lived in his apartment block.

Pichushkin’s reign of terror ended in 2006. His downfall came thanks to a train ticket stub found on one of his victims, Marina Moskalyova. Surveillance footage from the station showed her last moments—walking alongside Alexander Pichushkin.

This evidence, combined with Marina’s boyfriend having Pichushkin’s phone number, sealed his fate. In 2007, he was convicted of 49 murders and 3 attempted murders. But Alexander wasn’t satisfied. He wanted credit for 60 victims, claiming he deserved recognition for every life he took.

Pichushkin was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the first 15 years in solitary confinement. Held at an undisclosed prison, his only visitor is his mother. During his trial, he spoke candidly about his crimes, showing no remorse.

He confessed that he had aimed to surpass the body count of Andrei Chikatilo, the infamous Rostov Ripper. But even with 64 victims in mind, Pichushkin admitted he would never have stopped killing.

Pichushkin’s story is a grim reminder of how tragedy, mental illness, and unchecked rage can lead to unthinkable horrors. He remains behind bars, but the scars of his crimes linger in the memories of his victims’ families and in the shadowy paths of Bitsa Park.

What do you think drove Alexander Pichushkin to such horrific extremes? Was it his childhood trauma, his thirst for power, or something far darker? Let us know in the comments below.

свернуть