Former Russian policeman dubbed The Werewolf raped and slaughtered 24 women who 'resembled his mother'

A former policeman known as a 'perfect husband and father' led a secret life as serial killer who murdered at least two dozen women in Siberia. Mikhail Popkov axed, stabbed or strangled full-figured women 'who resembled his mother' who allegedly abused him in childhood, it was revealed today. Russian investigators say the 49-year-old has confessed to 24 murders, though police suspect him of at least 29 and crime experts fear even more. Nicknamed variously The Werewolf and the Wednesday Murderer - after the day of the week when many of his victims were found in forests - he eluded police for two decades as investigators catastrophically ignored evidence that the mystery killer could be one of their own officers who used his uniform to gain trust.

The father of one - who faces life in jail - selected victims who resembled his mother, say Russian reports of the case, which is centred on Angarsk in the Irkutsk region of Siberia. Police earlier said that of the 29 he was suspected of killing, 25 were aged 19 to 28, and four were from 35 to 40. 'He beheaded at least one woman and gouged the heart out of a victim,' reported The Siberian Times. 'Popkov claimed he suddenly stopped killing after he "became impotent", suggesting a sexual motive to his murder spree. 'Typically, his victims were slightly intoxicated when he lured them to their deaths. 'He snared them after they had been to bars or parties. He is suspected of seeking revenge on his mother who was an alcoholic and allegedly abused him in his childhood.'

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