Maxim Petrov

Case details

Maxim Vladimirovich Petrov (born 1966) (Russian: Максим Петров) was a Russian doctor and serial killer. The Russian media nicknamed him "Doctor Killer" and "Doctor Death".

At the time of his arrest, Petrov was married with three children: one from a first marriage and two from his second.

Timeline

• 2 February 1999 — The first murder took place during his thirtieth robbery.
• 17 January 2000 — Petrov was arrested when he visited one of the patients.

The offence

Between 1997 and 2000, Petrov committed 47 robberies. He lived on Vasilievsky Island in St Petersburg and would visit a patient at their home unannounced, usually in the morning when relatives would be at work. He would measure blood pressure and suggest that the person needed an injection. He anaesthetised them, and while they were unconscious, stole their possessions, including rings and earrings taken from the victims’ bodies.

The first few victims did not die and woke up later after he had left.

After an initial phase, his modus operandi changed. He began to inject his victims with a lethal mix of a variety of different drugs so that police would think the killer had little medical knowledge. He then set fire to their homes to destroy evidence.

On 2 February 1999, during his thirtieth robbery, he was interrupted when the daughter of an anaesthetised patient returned home while he was stealing possessions. He stabbed her with a screwdriver and then strangled the patient with a stocking.

Petrov was suspected of 19 murders but was tried for just 17 in 2002. He was found guilty of 12 murders. Six patients were also seriously injured.

Investigation

Various possessions were found in his flat, though he had already sold others at the market.

The police did not release a photofit of the suspect, thinking he would soon be caught. It took until 2000 for them to realise how the victims were being selected. All victims were included in the same list of lung patients who had undergone a fluorography, which Petrov found in a local health centre.

Using this list, police identified 72 possible future victims in an operation called "Medbrat" ("Male Nurse"), involving 700 police officers.

Arrest

Police arrested Petrov on 17 January 2000 when he visited one of the patients.

On his arrest, Petrov admitted to the murders, but recanted his confession a few months later, blaming it on the intense psychological pressure he had endured while in custody.

Trial

Petrov’s trial took place in 2002. He was suspected of 19 murders but was tried for just 17.

He was found guilty of 12.

The judge at the trial was Valentina Kudriashovo.

During the trial, Anastasia Plotnikova said:

"I remember a call at my flat at about 2pm. The young man presented himself as a doctor from the local clinic. The doctor took my blood pressure, which appeared to be high, and offered an injection. He spent a lot of time trying to find the vein, and I thought: 'how can a doctor have problems with such a thing?' " "When I woke, there was fire around me. I cried for help on the balcony. The fire service came but the flat was badly burned."

She later discovered that gold earrings, wedding rings and two packets of tea had been stolen.

Valentina Kudriashovo said:

"Five victims have spoken [in court]" "They are all very old people. This will not be a quick process. He is accused of a series of robberies and killings."

Another survivor, Valentina Pleshikova, told local media that she was only saved because her husband returned home early from work. She claimed she was injected with a substance by Dr Petrov and fell asleep. When she awoke, she discovered the gas oven had been turned on, and all the windows shut. Her husband dragged her from the flat to safety. They later discovered that a set of silver forks, and 200 roubles (£5) were missing, plus some coffee.

Sentencing

Petrov was sentenced to life in prison by judge Valentina Kudriashovo.

Outcome

Petrov was sentenced to life in prison on 2002.

Aftermath

The Russian media dubbed Petrov "Doctor Killer" and "Doctor Death". Petrov denied the allegations and wrote a protest letter to the television channel NTV from his jail cell complaining that a series of documentaries about the deaths were "libellous".