This episode contains extremely disturbing descriptions of violence and brutality towards children and Ukrainian POWs. Listener digression is strongly advised.

On this week’s episode of HNTRASK, Michelle and Francis discuss the worst of the worst, Andrei Romanovich Chikatillo. Andrei, nicknamed The Butcher of Rostov, was a killer who other killers would find appalling. Preying almost exclusively on children, The Butcher received this moniker because of his gruesome M.O.: gouging out the eyes of his victims and often removing their organs for sexual gratification. While Andrei was obviously mentally unwell, and that is the understatement of the century, his upbringing in the communist USSR did not help his preexisting conditions. He grew up during a time of extreme famine, where cannibalism was common practice.

Listen in to this conversation to learn more about The Butcher, his disturbing childhood, and the historical context that may have played a major role in his success and brutality as a serial killer.

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