Juhani Aataminpoika

Juhani Aataminpoika (; born 31 July 1826 – September 1854) alias Kerpeikkari , was a Finnish serial killer. He killed 12 people in southern Finland between October and November of 1849. He has been characterized as the first serial killer in Finland.

Biography Juhani Aataminpoika left home at the age of 15, living a nomadic life and committing petty crimes. In October 1849, he was charged with stealing horses and imprisoned. During his imprisonment, he was taken from the Hämeenlinna prison to Hauho, where the court was to be held on his crimes. During transport, he escaped, starting a homicidal spree. In Lammi he killed the master and mistress of the Helisevä croft with a man named Kustaa Kratula. From there, he went back to his home in Heinola, where he killed his stepfather and mother and their two children before fleeing to the forest.

Shortly afterwards, he killed a man to get his certificate to get a job at a canal site. Aataminpoika travelled to the Saimaa Canal killing more people on the way. He did not stay at the canal work site but killed a sailor in order to get his papers.

At the beginning of November, Aataminpoika returned to Lammi, from which he left with his friend Antti Suikko to go to the Tyry croft in the village of Hattelmala. The men vandalized the house, maimed the tenants, and stole their money. The elderly mistress of the house died later from her injuries, but the others managed to survive the attack.