Anatoly Sedykh (serial killer)

Anatoly Sedykh (born 1962) was a Russian serial killer responsible for the murders of at least eight women in the Moscow region between 1998 and 1999. He became known as the "Balashikha Maniac" due to the location of many of his crimes.

Sedykh targeted vulnerable women, often alcoholics or those living on the margins of society. His modus operandi typically involved inviting the women to his apartment, where he would consume alcohol with them before killing them. He disposed of the bodies in wooded areas and landfills.

The investigation into the murders was hampered by the victims' transient lifestyles, making it difficult to link the crimes. Sedykh was eventually apprehended in 1999 after a tip-off from a neighbor who witnessed him carrying a suspicious package.

During the investigation, police found incriminating evidence at his apartment, including belongings of the victims. He confessed to the murders and was subsequently convicted.

Sedykh was sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes. His case is notable for highlighting the vulnerability of marginalized populations to serial killers and the challenges faced by law enforcement in investigating such cases when the victims are not easily missed or reported missing. He remains incarcerated.