Number 5: Alexander Pichushkin

Alexander Pichushkin, is a Russian probably better known to many as the "Chessboard Killer" (though having a name unpronouncable to our western tongues doesn't help any). Convicted of 48 murders (and believed to have been assocated with 63), Pichushkin claimed that he wanted to kill one person for every square on the chess board (a total of 64, one more than his entire death toll).

For most serial killers dodging the police, angry mobs, vigilantes, and God's wrath is difficult enough, but this guy managed to actually get a theme going and follow up on it. While this isn't the first time someone has ever tried to have a theme (just look at the Zodiac and his jet black accouterment), this is one of the few killers I can think of that would fit properly in a David Fincher film (I mean, again, besides the Zodiac Killer).

Pichushkin's method of murder sounds like it was drummed up by a bad, Russophobic pulp novelist. What Pichushkin would do is target homeless men, drink vodka with them, and then hit them with a hammer until death. If you added a sickle, a mustache, and a fur hat we could probably accuse him of being the "Most Russian Serial Murderer Ever." Thankfully for the Russian people they don't have to worry about this stigma and can focus their concerns on more pressing things like sub-zero winters and bears.

Some have also speculated (by some I mean, Russian newspapers) that Pichushkin was inspired by Andrei Chikatilo, Russia's other infamous serial murderer (and comrade on our list). What's more is that Pichushkin kind of looks like a drunk, Russian Elvis, which I'm fairly certain is an oxymoron in more than one way. So, thanks, you Siberian creepstore, not only have you managed to bring Russian culture into your weird and awful life choices, but you've managed to drag The King into this too. Thanks a bunch.

James Kislingbury for Citadel Interactive © 2009 

Photo courtesy of AFP, by Maxim Marmur

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