Between 1970 and 1971, a series of brutal murders terrified the streets of Bucharest. The victims were mostly women — attacked at night, bitten, and mutilated. Their killer became known as The Vampire of Bucharest.

His crimes were frenzied and disturbing, leaving investigators to wonder whether they were dealing with a deranged killer or a man driven by superstition and obsession. He broke into homes, assaulted his victims, and sometimes drank their blood. When police finally caught him, the case exposed deep social anxieties in communist Romania — about violence, repression, and the darkness beneath a society that demanded silence.

Listen now to uncover the true story behind Romania’s most infamous serial killer.



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Resources

Documentaries

Web

Wikipedia – Ion Rîmaru

Articles

“Tatăl și fiul – criminali în serie” – Libertatea.ro (RO)

“Vampirul din București” – Realitatea.net (RO)

Interview with Dr. Tudorel Butoi – TVR Info

“Ion Rîmaru – the Vampire” – Evenimentul Zilei (RO)

Historic Mysteries – The Vampire of Bucharest

Romania Insider – "The Butcher of Bucharest"



Created & Produced by Sonya Lowe

Narrated by Noel Vinson

Music: “Nordic Medieval” by Marcus Bressler

Background track: Doblado Studios: https://www.youtube.com/c/DobladoStudios