THe Investigation begins
In 1983, a Moscow detective named Mikhail Festisov took charge of the Chikatilo murders. Eventually, Festisov assigned a forensic analyst, Victor Burakov to head the investigation. While in charge, Burakov centered his search primarily on known sex offenders, the mentally ill, homosexuals, and know pedophiles.
As the number of victims increased, the police and the detectives were certain the killer had an AB blood type, which they gathered from the semen samples found on the victims. The body count continued to rise and the police efforts were increased, and there were massive surveillance efforts put in place.
Chikatilo was arrested due to his suspicious behavior at a bus station but his blood type did not match that of the suspected killer (Chikatilo's blood type did not match that of the type found in other bodily fluids, like semen, which made catching him more difficult). However, he was arrested for minor offenses and imprisoned for three months. After his release from prison, he killed two more women.
Eventually, Burakov hired the psychiatrist Alexandr Bukhanovsky who worked also as a profiler. His work narrowed the suspect pool with his description of the killer as between 45 and 50, and being a "necrosadist", someone who achieves sexual gratification from the suffering and death of others).
Over the next two years, the body count increased by 19 more victims, mainly young boys. Chikatilo was becoming careless and killing his victims in more public places where he was most likely to be discovered.
As the number of victims increased, the police and the detectives were certain the killer had an AB blood type, which they gathered from the semen samples found on the victims. The body count continued to rise and the police efforts were increased, and there were massive surveillance efforts put in place.
Chikatilo was arrested due to his suspicious behavior at a bus station but his blood type did not match that of the suspected killer (Chikatilo's blood type did not match that of the type found in other bodily fluids, like semen, which made catching him more difficult). However, he was arrested for minor offenses and imprisoned for three months. After his release from prison, he killed two more women.
Eventually, Burakov hired the psychiatrist Alexandr Bukhanovsky who worked also as a profiler. His work narrowed the suspect pool with his description of the killer as between 45 and 50, and being a "necrosadist", someone who achieves sexual gratification from the suffering and death of others).
Over the next two years, the body count increased by 19 more victims, mainly young boys. Chikatilo was becoming careless and killing his victims in more public places where he was most likely to be discovered.
FINAL VICTIM: SVETLANA KOROSTIK
-22 year old female
-Her body was found December 13th in a woodsy area near a train station
-Her body was found December 13th in a woodsy area near a train station
final arrest
Chikatilo was arrested for the final time on November 20, 1990 for suspicious behavior. While in custody, he originally refused to confess to the murders. The leading detective had Chikatilo talk to a psychiatrist to whom he eventually opened up to; he provided extensive details of his killings and even led the police to undiscovered bodies. He claimed to have taken the lives of 56 people, but only 53 of those cases could be determined for sure.
Pictures:At top (from left to right): http://www.nerdygaga.com/1270/weird-and-shocking-cannibalism/
http://persona.rin.ru/eng/photo/f/37758/9/andrei-chikatilo
http://criminalminds.wikia.com/wiki/File:Chikatilo_trial.jpg
http://mystery.bf-1.com/killer/butcher-rostov-andrei-chikatilo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/495477.stm
Of last victim: http://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/chikatilo-victims.htm
http://persona.rin.ru/eng/photo/f/37758/9/andrei-chikatilo
http://criminalminds.wikia.com/wiki/File:Chikatilo_trial.jpg
http://mystery.bf-1.com/killer/butcher-rostov-andrei-chikatilo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/495477.stm
Of last victim: http://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/chikatilo-victims.htm