Anatoly Onoprienko
Encyclopedia
Anatoly Yuriyovych Onoprienko (born on July 25, 1959) is a Ukrainian serial killer
. He is also known by the nicknames "The Beast of Ukraine", "The Terminator" and "Citizen O". After police
arrested the 37-year-old former forestry student on April 16, 1996, Onoprienko confessed to killing 52 people.
in the village of Privitnoe. In one interview, Onoprienko later said that this predetermined his destiny - and remarked that 70% of those who are brought up in orphanages end up going to prison in later life.
and a number of other weapons, which matched the murder
weapons used in several of the killings, together with a number of items which had been removed from murder victims. While in custody he eventually confessed
to eight killings between 1989 to 1995. At first, he denied other charges, but ultimately confessed to the killing of 52 innocent victims
over a six-year period. While in custody, he claimed that he killed in response to commands he was given by inner voices.
unlucky enough to cross his path during his murderous rampages. The first to die were a family of four in Bratkovychi
. Another family of five and two witnesses were killed not long after in the same village. When police imposed a security cordon around Bratkovychi, he then moved to other villages to continue killing.
d (burning, electric shocking and beating) Mr Mozola. Mozola refused to confess to the crimes and died during the torture. Seven responsible for the death were sentenced to prison terms. Seventeen days later, the real murderer, Anatoly Onoprienko, was found after a massive manhunt, seven years after his first murder
. This happened after he moved in with one of his relatives and his stash of weapons was discovered. Onoprienko was quickly booted out of the house. Days later, from the information received, Onoprienko was captured.
Onoprienko murdered 43 victims in 6 months.
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
. He is also known by the nicknames "The Beast of Ukraine", "The Terminator" and "Citizen O". After police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
arrested the 37-year-old former forestry student on April 16, 1996, Onoprienko confessed to killing 52 people.
Birth and childhood
Anatoly Onoprienko was the youngest of two sons; his brother, Valentin, was 13 years his senior. His father, Yuri Onoprienko, was decorated for bravery during the Second World War. When Anatoly was 4 years old, his mother died. He was cared for by his grandparents and aunt for a time before being handed over to an orphanageOrphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
in the village of Privitnoe. In one interview, Onoprienko later said that this predetermined his destiny - and remarked that 70% of those who are brought up in orphanages end up going to prison in later life.
Crimes
When finally arrested by police, Onoprienko was found to be in possession of a hunting rifleRifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
and a number of other weapons, which matched the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
weapons used in several of the killings, together with a number of items which had been removed from murder victims. While in custody he eventually confessed
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
to eight killings between 1989 to 1995. At first, he denied other charges, but ultimately confessed to the killing of 52 innocent victims
Victimology
Victimology is the scientific study of victimization, including the relationships between victims and offenders, the interactions between victims and the criminal justice system — that is, the police and courts, and corrections officials — and the connections between victims and other social groups...
over a six-year period. While in custody, he claimed that he killed in response to commands he was given by inner voices.
Methods
The killings followed a set pattern. He chose an isolated house, and gain the attention of the occupants by creating a commotion. He would then kill all occupants starting with the adult male, before going to find and kill the spouse and finally the children. He would then usually set the buildings alight in an attempt to cover his tracks. He would also kill any witnessWitness
A witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge about an event, or in the criminal justice systems usually a crime, through his or her senses and can help certify important considerations about the crime or event. A witness who has seen the event first hand is known as an eyewitness...
unlucky enough to cross his path during his murderous rampages. The first to die were a family of four in Bratkovychi
Bratkovychi
Bratkovychi is a selo in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine. It is located in the Horodotsky Raion near the Polish border....
. Another family of five and two witnesses were killed not long after in the same village. When police imposed a security cordon around Bratkovychi, he then moved to other villages to continue killing.
Capture and conviction
In March 1996, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Public Prosecutor's Office specialists detained 26-year-old Yury Mozola as a suspect of several brutal murders. Over the course of three days, six SBU members and one representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office tortureTorture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
d (burning, electric shocking and beating) Mr Mozola. Mozola refused to confess to the crimes and died during the torture. Seven responsible for the death were sentenced to prison terms. Seventeen days later, the real murderer, Anatoly Onoprienko, was found after a massive manhunt, seven years after his first murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
. This happened after he moved in with one of his relatives and his stash of weapons was discovered. Onoprienko was quickly booted out of the house. Days later, from the information received, Onoprienko was captured.
Onoprienko murdered 43 victims in 6 months.