Vasiliy Kulik
Encyclopedia
Vasiliy Kulik was a Soviet serial killer
responsible for the murders of 13 people (children and elderly women) in Irkutsk between 1984 and 1986.
, Soviet Union
to an aristocratic
family. His father was a doctor of Biological Sciences and writer, his mother a school-headmistress. A few years later, Kulik left home and began work as a medic
in the Irkutsk Emergency Station. He married and had three sons.
After his arrest, the police interviewed the Kulik family. His mother told the police that her son had grown weak and had developed a limp
. She said that her son had tortured animals
as a child, and that he had assumed a dominant male persona in his manner of dress and in his interests. His sisters reported that he was selfish and cruel. Kulik grew up in an unstable environment and, when his father died, tried to commit suicide
.
Kulik became sexually active at an early age and had many girlfriends. In school, he had been involved with a girl but became depressed
after she moved to another city. At age 20, he started pursuing older, married women, but was frequently rejected.
In 1980, Kulik wrote a novel in which the main character forms a relationship with a nine-year-old girl with the sole purpose of having sex with her.
d and strangled an elderly woman he encountered on the street. His second victim was an eight-year-old girl. The third was a 53-year-old woman whom he killed with a gun
and a kitchen knife
.
His other victims included six children, aged seven months to two years, and seven elderly women (the oldest was 75).
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...
responsible for the murders of 13 people (children and elderly women) in Irkutsk between 1984 and 1986.
Early life
Vasiliy Kulik was born in Irkutsk OblastIrkutsk Oblast
Irkutsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , located in southeastern Siberia in the basins of Angara River, Lena, and Nizhnyaya Tunguska Rivers. The administrative center is the city of Irkutsk. Population: -History:...
, Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to an aristocratic
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
family. His father was a doctor of Biological Sciences and writer, his mother a school-headmistress. A few years later, Kulik left home and began work as a medic
Medic
Medic is a general term for a person involved in medicine, especially emergency or first-response medicine, such as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or a military member trained in battlefield medicine. Also the term is used toward a Nurse in pre-hospital care and/or emergency...
in the Irkutsk Emergency Station. He married and had three sons.
After his arrest, the police interviewed the Kulik family. His mother told the police that her son had grown weak and had developed a limp
Limp
A limp is a type of asymmetric abnormality of the gait. Limping may be caused by pain, weakness, neuromuscular imbalance, or a skeletal deformity. The most common underlying cause of a painful limp is physical trauma however in the absence of trauma other serious causes such as septic arthritis,...
. She said that her son had tortured animals
Zoosadism
Zoosadism is a term coined by Ernest Borneman referring to pleasure derived from cruelty to animals. Zoosadism is part of the Macdonald triad, a set of three behaviors that are a precursor to sociopathic behavior.-Research:...
as a child, and that he had assumed a dominant male persona in his manner of dress and in his interests. His sisters reported that he was selfish and cruel. Kulik grew up in an unstable environment and, when his father died, tried to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
Kulik became sexually active at an early age and had many girlfriends. In school, he had been involved with a girl but became depressed
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
after she moved to another city. At age 20, he started pursuing older, married women, but was frequently rejected.
In 1980, Kulik wrote a novel in which the main character forms a relationship with a nine-year-old girl with the sole purpose of having sex with her.
Murders
In 1984, he drugged, rapeRape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d and strangled an elderly woman he encountered on the street. His second victim was an eight-year-old girl. The third was a 53-year-old woman whom he killed with a gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
and a kitchen knife
Kitchen knife
A kitchen knife is any knife that is intended to be used in food preparation. While much of this work can be accomplished with a few general-purpose knives – notably a large chef's knife, a tough cleaver, and a small paring knife – there are also many specialized knives that are designed for...
.
His other victims included six children, aged seven months to two years, and seven elderly women (the oldest was 75).