*Disclaimer: This episode mentions violence against children and adults of both physical and sexual nature. Listener discretion is advised.*
THIS EPISODE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. CONTAINS HIGHLY GRAPHIC AND DESCRIPTIVE MURDERS.
Sofie's Choice this week is a guy who proves to be the absolute worst. This is the agonizing story of Russia's Butcher of Rostov, The Rostov Ripper, The Red Ripper, or simply sick f-ck Andrei Chikatilo. As stated several times, this episode is definitely not for the faint of heart as this man showed no mercy to his victims and was truly disgusting. It's ok to skip this one, we understand! (You can tune into the Mini Monday for a full 360 of light-heartedness and laughs)
Growing up in the aftermath of the great Ukrainian famine of the 1930s, Andrei Chikatilo, his full name being Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo, was an impotent man who after experiencing many mishaps and bullying due to this, grew up to become one of Russia's worst serial killers. His case is noteworthy not only because of the immense number of his victims but because efforts by Soviet police to influence what the media published during their investigation were hindered by the state of mind in the 70s and the country’s ideology, which asserted that a serial murderer was not only impossible in a communist society, it was unthinkable. To the point where for a while the media was running with the rumors that there was actually a werewolf on the loose causing these murders. It's said that the impact of the great famine, during which millions of people died and many resorted to cannibalism to survive, largely influenced him. During his childhood, he was told constantly by his mother that he had an older brother who had been kidnapped and eaten by neighbors. This story, along with the happenings around his family in his early childhood, would apparently later motivate Chikatilo to cannibalize some of his own victims.
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*Theme music is sang by Sofie and edited and composed by Sam Jentink.
