A Russian Serial Killer Gets a Second Life Sentence
Who Is Mikhail Popkov?
Picture a former cop who turns his badge into a butcher’s knife. That’s Mikhail Popkov, a man who roamed the streets of Irkutsk’s backyard, offering night‑time rides that ended in a grim finale.
The Court’s Verdict: 56 Murders
On Monday, a Siberian judge threw the book at Popkov again, sentencing him to life imprisonment for the 56 murders (1992‑2007) he allegedly committed. He was already hanging from a single life sentence for 22 women he brutally killed in 2015.
Not Just a Killer, He’s a Rapist Too
- He confessed to 59 extra murders, but a jury couldn’t pin down three of them.
- Prosecutors blasted him as “having a pathological attraction to killing.”
- He also claimed responsibility for 10 rapes.
Why the Double Life?
Because in Russia, a life sentence means you get the full length of your time—no parole. And with this second conviction, he also loses his old police pension, so there’s no relaxing on the financial front.
How He Picked His Victims
Late‑night, he’d offer a ride, occasionally in a patrol car, but only when he was off‑duty. That “welcome ride” could turn into a dreadful last ride if you were unlucky enough to be one of the 57 victims.
Popkov vs. The Rest of the “Legendary” Killers
- Alexander Pichushkin (the “Chessboard Killer”) got life for 48 murders.
- Andrei Chikatilo went down for 52 Soviet‑era killings.
- Popkov’s 56 convictions outshine them all—he’s got the crown for the most murders in the Russian‑Union territory.
Talk About a Dark Tale
When you read about Popkov, you can practically hear the click of a gun and the shiver of the cold Siberian wind. While he’s already locked up, there’s no precognitive step between life and plea, yet the judges decided to keep him behind bars forever.
