Ilpo Tapio Larha

Murderer

1known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: Finland
Location: Jollas, Helsinki, Finland
Date of birth: J uly 19, 1968
Age at first offence: 24
Characteristics: murder for hire, escape, bank robbery
Victim profile: Wilhelm Högsten, 77
Method of murder: Shooting
Date(s) of murder: April 24, 1992
Years active: 1992
Date of arrest: —
Status: Died in custody
Sentenced to life in prison; escaped February 25, 1994; committed suicide by shooting himself on March 17, 1994

Case Summary

Case summary

Ilpo Tapio Larha (July 19, 1968 in Helsinki, Finland – March 17, 1994 in Lahti, Finland) was a Finnish criminal. Larha became famous for committing the contract murder of 77-year-old crippled businessman Wilhelm Högsten in Jollas, a suburb of Helsinki, on April 24, 1992.

Larha was hired by Högsten's 47-year-old son Fred. Larha, Högsten, and 31-year-old businessman Hannu Ratia, who drove Larha to the site of the murder, were sentenced to life in prison.

On February 25, 1994, Larha escaped from prison with Kullervo Haikas, who was serving a long sentence for drug crimes. On March 1, Larha robbed a bank in Pitäjänmäki nearly killing a cashier. After this, Larha and Haikas barricaded themselves with two hostages in a building in Lahti. Police discovered them at March 15, and the siege lasted two days. While Haikas and the hostages were rescued, Larha shot himself on March 17, 1994.

Finland's president Tarja Halonen pardoned Hannu Ratia in the end of 2005 and pardoned Fred Högsten in May 2006.

Timeline

July 19, 1968 — Ilpo Tapio Larha was born in Helsinki, Finland.
April 24, 1992 — Larha committed the contract murder of 77-year-old crippled businessman Wilhelm Högsten in Jollas, a suburb of Helsinki.
February 25, 1994 — Larha escaped from prison with Kullervo Haikas.
March 1 — Larha robbed a bank in Pitäjänmäki nearly killing a cashier.
March 15 — Police discovered Larha and Haikas barricaded with two hostages in a building in Lahti.
March 17, 1994 — Larha shot himself.
End of 2005 — Tarja Halonen pardoned Hannu Ratia.
May 2006 — Tarja Halonen pardoned Fred Högsten.
March 17, 1994 — Ilpo Tapio Larha died in Lahti, Finland.

The offence

Larha committed the contract murder of 77-year-old crippled businessman Wilhelm Högsten in Jollas, a suburb of Helsinki, on April 24, 1992. Hannu Ratia, a 31-year-old businessman, drove Larha to the site of the murder.

Sentencing

Larha, Högsten, and 31-year-old businessman Hannu Ratia were sentenced to life in prison.

Escape and subsequent events

On February 25, 1994, Larha escaped from a prison with Kullervo Haikas, who was serving a long sentence for drug crimes. After the bank robbery, Larha and Haikas barricaded themselves with two hostages in a building in Lahti.

Police discovered Larha and Haikas at March 15, and the siege lasted two days.

Investigation and police action

Police discovered Larha and Haikas barricaded with two hostages in a building in Lahti at March 15. The siege lasted two days, and Haikas and the hostages were rescued while Larha shot himself on March 17, 1994.

Outcome / aftermath

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