Anatoly Markov (serial killer)

Anatoly Yuryevich Markov (; born 1973), known as The Psotino Butcher , is a Russian serial killer and mass murderer who committed 12 murders between 2001 and 2002 across three regions, ten of which were done with the help of Ukrainian accomplice Alexander Yuryevich Lesnoy (; born February 9, 1975).

The killings remained unsolved until 2022, when both perpetrators were arrested. Despite the severity of the crimes, both Markov and Lesnoy were given lesser sentences of 19 and 17 years imprisonment, respectively, due to the fact the statute of limitations passing on the aggravated murder charge.

Early life Anatoly Markov was born in 1973 in Stavropol, Stavropol Krai. Growing up in a seemingly normal family, the Markovs moved to the Checheno-Ingush ASSR shortly after Anatoly's birth, where they spent the next two decades. In the mid-1990s, due to hostilities in the First Chechen War, the entire family moved back to Stavropol Krai and settled in the village of Grigoropolisskaya. While in the capital, he made a living by begging, stealing and selling stolen goods. Not long after this, he became friends with Alexander Lesnoy, a Ukrainian criminal and fugitive who was hiding in Russia to avoid murder charges in his home country. Over the course of several days, the pair would commit multiple murders.

The pair's first joint murder was committed on February 6, 2002. Their victim was a resident of Moscow's Arbat District, whom they killed during a quarrel after drinking alcohol, after which they stole money and valuables from his apartment.

Lukhovitsky Massacre The next day, Markod and Lesnoy traveled to the village of Psotino, where 35-year-old Olga Iskanderova, an acquaintance of Markov who had recently started abusing alcohol, lived. Throughout the day and until nightfall, the group, including Markov and Lesnoy, drank alcohol until a conflict occurred between the guests. In their drunken stupor, Markov and Lesnoy grabbed an axe and knife, respectively, after which they murdered the Kurochkins and Vasiliev. They then drank more alcohol before stumbling to another room, where they murdered Iskanderova and her 8-year-old daughter Lida in their sleep. Then, fearing that they might be remembered by Khardin - who had gone home shortly before the massacre - the pair went to his home, knocked on the door and killed him when he opened it. They then barged inside and happened upon his 63-year-old wife Raisa, whom they killed as well. Markov and Lesnoy then stole several items of value and the remaining alcohol, which they exchanged for meat. The corpses of the victims were found two days later by a neighbor.

Final murders and laying low Shortly after killing everyone, Markov and Lesnoy bought train tickets bound for Ryazan. On February 10, they met Nikolai Bugaichenko, a 62-year-old alcoholic, at the station in Ryazhsk. Bugaichenko allowed them to sleep at his home for the night, but later that same day, while the trio and an acquaintance of Bugaichenko's, 25-year-old Valery Tishuk, started drinking, another quarrel arose. Similar to their previous victims, Markov and Lesnoy grabbed an axe and knife and proceeded to stab and hack both men. It turned out that on February 8, the men had visited Iskanderova's house, but both later left.

During the course of the investigation, witnesses were found from among the villagers and workers at the nearby Podlipki Railway Station. According to the, there were two non-local men - one of them carrying a large sports bag - who were seen heading to buy train tickets en route to Ryazan on the day after the murders. After analyzing them, they were linked to the now-49-year-old Anatoly Markov.