Russian authorities have reportedly arrested a murderer, known locally as the "Volga Maniac," who is allegedly responsible for the killing of more than 26 elderly women.
The Russian Investigative Committee said that it has arrested a 38-year-old man named Radik Tagirov. He had reportedly confessed to the murder of 26 elderly women. The string of murders happened in central Russia between 2011 and 2012, making mainstream newspaper headlines during that time.
Investigators said that they had identified the suspect through various DNA evidence, shoe prints, and other items obtained from crime scenes of the brutal murders. Tagirov reportedly posed as a plumber, electrician, or a utility worker to gain entry into the homes of elderly women that were living alone before he killed them.
Tagirov is reportedly a mechanic and originated from the city of Kazan. He reportedly served time in jail after he was arrested for robbery.
"[I've picked the victims] accidentally, I watched them near the markets, near the shops, [they would come out] with bags and I'd walk them home," Tagirov said in a video published by the Interior Ministry on Tuesday.
Most of the victims were senior citizens aged between 75 and 90. Tagirov killed his victims through strangulation, using his hands and other nearby objects such as clothesline and pieces of clothing.
Investigators said that Tagirov did steal some of his victim's belongings but there were cases where valuables were left untouched. Police had a hard time catching the killer as Tagirov reportedly used gloves and meticulously sterilized crime scenes before leaving.
The murders occurred in several Russian cities, including several in Samara, Kazan, Izhevsk, Ufa and Tolyatti. Investigators have yet to pinpoint the exact number of victims but it is believed that Tagirov may have killed more people than he had confessed to authorities.
Apart from being called the "Volga Maniac," the killer was also sometimes referred to as the "Povolzhky Strangler." His activities died down in 2013, but the killing resumed in 2017 with a string of new murders. This renewed fear among the public and investigators were once again tasked with tracking down the murderer.
In 2019, Russia offered a 30,000 British pound bounty for any information that would lead to the arrest of the serial killer.
