Valery Skoptsov

Valery Nikolaevich Skoptsov (; 1 August 1951 – 12 April 2004), known as The Villain of all Trades , was a Russian criminal and serial killer, who was known for committing a variety of crimes around the USSR and then after Russia, ranging from thefts to murders.

Biography Skoptsov was born on 1 August 1951, in the town of Velikiye Luki, Pskov Oblast. He was a talented and gifted child, graduating from a music school in three years, while most of his peers did in seven. In addition, Valery graduated from high school with a gold medal, and at the same, while also attending an art school, he participated in numerous poetry competitions, often winning them. After school, he entered a medical university, with the aim of becoming a neurosurgeon. During his studies, Skoptsov was engaged in amateur performances, was a secretary for the CPSU and an excellent student. On the other hand, his stepbrother, Sergei Turaev, was the exact opposite: he did not want to study or work, and often stole and drank too much. At one point, the two brothers ransacked a neighbouring cottage, for which they were reprimanded, but weren't hindered at all by this. Soon after, they stole a car and were rearrested. Skoptsov took the blame, and after a mental examination by the Serbsky Institute, he was declared insane, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. He soon left the medical university, as it was forbidden for somebody to study as a doctor if they were schizophrenic, and so, he enrolled on a cultural enlightenment school. After graduating ahead of schedule and with honours, he entered into the Leningrad Institute of Culture. Among his classmates were Valery Leontiev, Tõnis Mägi and a number of other future pop stars.

On 12 April 2004, Valery Skoptsov died from acute heart failure, at the age of 52. He was buried in the prison cemetery.

In popular culture Documentary film "Villain of all Trades" from the series "Criminal Russia" Documentary film "Dark Genius" from the series "The investigation was conducted..."