Sergei Ryakhovsky
Encyclopedia
Sergei Vasilyevich Ryakhovsky a.k.a. The Hippopotamus, The Balashikha
Ripper (1963 in Moscow, Russia-2005) was a Soviet serial killer
and rapist who between 1988 and 1993 killed in and around Moscow at least 19 people aged 14 to 78 years including 12 women, five men and two boys. He also assault
ed six other victims, who survived.
was strangulation by rope or by bare hands, though victims were also sometimes stabbed or mutilated by tools (usually a knife, hammer or screwdriver). Mutilation of the bodies was usually focused on the genital area. Almost all of Ryakhovsky's victims were rape
d after death. His last victims show the signs of an escalation in violence.
In January 1993 Ryakhovsky murdered a 78-year old man, cut off his head with a hunting knife
and, one day later, returned to cut off his leg. He ruptured the abdomen
of his next victim, a 65-year old woman, with a weak pyrotechnical device
. He hanged
, eviscerated, and then decapitated his penultimate victim, a 16-year-old boy, with a knife.
The press nicknamed Ryakhosky 'The Hippopotamus' because of his thick-necked, heavy-handed and pasty-faced appearance and hulking posture (six feet six inches tall and weighing in at 280 lbs).
officers. Despite his considerable strength and violent temperament shown later at trial, Ryakhovsky showed absolutely no resistance. Later he admitted that, after seeing weapons in the hands of officers, he became frozen with fear.
, Ryakhovsky's necrophiliac tendencies were caused by a malfunction in his central nervous system
. Ryakhovsky was evaluated as sane
, competent for trial and fully responsible for his actions, however. After being informed of his diagnosis, Ryakhovsky's behaviour changed dramatically. The accused, at first complacent and fully cooperating with the investigators, suddenly became obtrusive, stopped cooperating and began demanding punishment for the experts. He also revoked his previous confessions.
Ryakhovsky was sentenced to death by firing squad in July 1995. After hearing the verdict he said: "I will be back". However, in 1996 Russia imposed a moratorium on executions and the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment
in the maximum-security penal colony
IK1. Ryakhovsky died in 2005 due to a long untreated tuberculosis
.
Balashikha
Balashikha is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Pekhorka River east of Moscow. It is known for its unique river and waterway system. The Pekhorka River system covers an area of from north to south and from east to west, and many small lakes and ponds were created by damming to...
Ripper (1963 in Moscow, Russia-2005) was a Soviet serial killer
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...
and rapist who between 1988 and 1993 killed in and around Moscow at least 19 people aged 14 to 78 years including 12 women, five men and two boys. He also assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
ed six other victims, who survived.
Victims
Ryakhovsky's modus operandiModus operandi
Modus operandi is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation". The term is used to describe someone's habits or manner of working, their method of operating or functioning...
was strangulation by rope or by bare hands, though victims were also sometimes stabbed or mutilated by tools (usually a knife, hammer or screwdriver). Mutilation of the bodies was usually focused on the genital area. Almost all of Ryakhovsky's victims were rape
Rape
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 after death. His last victims show the signs of an escalation in violence.
In January 1993 Ryakhovsky murdered a 78-year old man, cut off his head with a hunting knife
Hunting knife
A hunting knife is a knife used during hunting for preparing the game to be used as food: skinning the animal and cutting up the meat. It is different from the Hunting dagger which was traditionally used to kill wild game....
and, one day later, returned to cut off his leg. He ruptured the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
of his next victim, a 65-year old woman, with a weak pyrotechnical device
Pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics is the science of using materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound...
. He hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
, eviscerated, and then decapitated his penultimate victim, a 16-year-old boy, with a knife.
The press nicknamed Ryakhosky 'The Hippopotamus' because of his thick-necked, heavy-handed and pasty-faced appearance and hulking posture (six feet six inches tall and weighing in at 280 lbs).
Arrest
During a routine search of the crime scene area, investigators found a shack with a noose fixed to the ceiling. Considering it a part of the preparation for the next murder, they decided to set an ambush. On 13 April 1993 Ryakhovsky arrived at the shack and was subsequently arrested by the MilitsiyaMilitsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
officers. Despite his considerable strength and violent temperament shown later at trial, Ryakhovsky showed absolutely no resistance. Later he admitted that, after seeing weapons in the hands of officers, he became frozen with fear.
Investigation
During investigation Ryakhovsky cooperated with officials and investigators, willingly indicating crime scenes and describing methods of killing. According to his confessions, most murders were not planned and were rather an effect of a sudden impulse forcing him to "clean the world of homosexuals and prostitutes" (the same explanations were used to explain motivation behind the murder of 70-year old woman and 78-years old man Ryahovski accidentally met in the forest). There was an exception however, as the murder of three homosexuals met in Izmailovski Park in 1988 were thoroughly planned, and the murder of 45-year old woman that, according to Ryakhovsky, was a result of his sexual urges. Most victims were people over 40 and around 50 years of age, while three of his victims were over 60.Trial and verdict
According to psychiatrists from the Moscow Serbsky InstituteMoscow Serbsky Institute
The Serbsky State Scientific Center for Social and Forensic Psychiatry is a psychiatric hospital and the main center for the forensic psychiatry of the Soviet Union and Russia. The institution was briefly called the Serbsky Institute in the past and is briefly called the Serbsky Center now...
, Ryakhovsky's necrophiliac tendencies were caused by a malfunction in his central nervous system
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
. Ryakhovsky was evaluated as sane
Sanity
Sanity refers to the soundness, rationality and healthiness of the human mind, as opposed to insanity. A person is sane if they are rational...
, competent for trial and fully responsible for his actions, however. After being informed of his diagnosis, Ryakhovsky's behaviour changed dramatically. The accused, at first complacent and fully cooperating with the investigators, suddenly became obtrusive, stopped cooperating and began demanding punishment for the experts. He also revoked his previous confessions.
Ryakhovsky was sentenced to death by firing squad in July 1995. After hearing the verdict he said: "I will be back". However, in 1996 Russia imposed a moratorium on executions and the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
in the maximum-security penal colony
Penal colony
A penal colony is a settlement used to exile prisoners and separate them from the general populace by placing them in a remote location, often an island or distant colonial territory...
IK1. Ryakhovsky died in 2005 due to a long untreated tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.