Antti Olavi Taskinen

Serial killer

3known / alleged victims

Similar offenders

Aino Nykopp-Koski Serial killer · Finland · 2004 Aino Nykopp-Koski Aino Nykopp-Koski was a Finnish nurse. She worked at a range… 5 victims

Luis Alfredo Garavito Serial killer · Colombia/Ecuador · 1992 Luis Alfredo Garavito Cubillos, also known as "La Bestia" ("The Beast") or "Tri… 192 victims

Edson Isidoro Guimaraes Serial killer · Brazil · 1999 Edson Isidoro Guimarães was a Brazilian nursing assistant and nurse’s aide at S… 131 victims

Javed Iqbal Serial killer · Pakistan · 1998 Javed Iqbal (born 1956 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan; died October 8, 2001, in La… 100 victims

Glen Edward Rogers Serial killer · USA · 1993 Glen Edward Rogers was a spree killer whose cross-country rampage in 1994-95 le… 70 victims

Yang Xinhai Serial killer · China · 2000 Yang Xinhai (simplified Chinese: 杨新海; pinyin: Yáng Xīnhǎi; 17 July 1968–14 Febr… 67 victims

Random profiles

Leonard Gonzalez Jr. Murderer · USA · 2009 Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder… 2 victims

CH Charles Smith Spree killer · USA · 1997 July 28, 1997 — Charles Smith, 53, fatally shot his ex-girlfriend, Cindy Benson… 4 victims

William Cook Spree killer · USA · 1951 William Cook, also known as “Billy Boy” or “Cockeyed Cook,” committed a spree o… 6 victims

CL Claudette Kibble Homicide/Murderer · USA · 1986 Claudette Kibble was the mother of five children. Claudette Kibble was 14 years… 3 victims

Jane LaMarsh Murderer · Canada · 2009 Name: Jane LaMarsh Jane LaMarsh was a 50-year-old woman from Wallaceburg, Ontar… 2 victims

Roger Mark Scott Murderer · USA · 1989 Roger Mark Scott was convicted and sentenced to death on April 22, 1991. On Dec… 1 victim

Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: Finland
Location: Tampere/Heinola, Finland
Date of birth: 1976
Age at first offence: 21
Characteristics: poisoner, to inherit
Victim profile: A 20-year-old student / A 30-year-old man / Markku Heimo Juhani Franssila, 54
Method of murder: Poisoning (Dolcotin and Abalgin overdoses )
Date(s) of murder: 1 996 / 1997 / 2005
Years active: 1997–2005
Date of arrest: January 2006
Status: Life imprisonment
Sentenced to life in prison on May 31, 2006

Case Summary

Case summary

Antti Olavi Taskinen (born 1976) was a Finnish serial killer responsible for the deaths of three men in Tampere and Heinola. Taskinen was sentenced to life in prison on May 31, 2006.

Taskinen killed his first victim, a 20-year-old student from Tampere, in August 1996. He gave the victim a Dolcontin (morphine) overdose. The Local Court considered this "aggravated involuntary manslaughter" (in Finnish: kuolemantuottamus).

In February 1997, Taskinen spent time in Tampere with a 30-year-old man. The man died, and a massive Abalgin (dextropropoxyphene) overdose was found in his blood. Before his death, the victim made a testament in favour of Taskinen. The Local Court considered this a manslaughter (in Finnish: tappo).

On November 2005, Taskinen murdered his third and final victim, Markku Heimo Juhani Franssila. Franssila was a rich 54-year-old business manager with a villa in Heinola, where the murder took place. The men had lived in a registered partnership for the last four months. Franssila died of an Abalgin overdose. The motive for the murder was the inheritance Taskinen would have been given.

Timeline

August 1996 — Taskinen killed a 20-year-old student from Tampere by giving him a Dolcontin (morphine) overdose.
February 1997 — Taskinen spent time in Tampere with a 30-year-old man who died; a massive Abalgin (dextropropoxyphene) overdose was found in the man’s blood.
November 2005 — Taskinen murdered Markku Heimo Juhani Franssila at Franssila’s villa in Heinola; Franssila died of an Abalgin overdose.
January 2006 — Taskinen was arrested and suspected for the murder of Franssila; police soon suspected him of two earlier homicides.
May 31, 2006 — Taskinen was sentenced to life imprisonment for aggravated involuntary manslaughter, a manslaughter and a murder.
May 2007 — Taskinen tried to appeal to the Supreme Court, but no leave to appeal was granted, making the sentence final.
July 2007 — Taskinen’s request for pardon from the President was denied.

Investigation and arrest

Taskinen was arrested on January 2006. He was suspected for the murder of Markku Heimo Juhani Franssila. The police soon started to suspect him of two earlier homicides too.

Trial and legal findings

Taskinen was found guilty. On May 31, 2006, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for aggravated involuntary manslaughter, a manslaughter and a murder.

Appeals and pardon

In May 2007, Taskinen tried to appeal to the Supreme Court, but no leave to appeal was granted, rendering his sentence final. Taskinen immediately sought pardon from the President, but the pardon was denied in July 2007.

People

Antti Olavi Taskinen (born 1976) — defendant; Finnish serial killer responsible for three deaths in Tampere and Heinola.
First victim — a 20-year-old student from Tampere; died after a Dolcontin (morphine) overdose; Local Court considered the case "aggravated involuntary manslaughter" (kuolemantuottamus).
Second victim — a 30-year-old man in Tampere; died after a massive Abalgin (dextropropoxyphene) overdose found in his blood; made a testament in favour of Taskinen; Local Court considered this a manslaughter (tappo).
Markku Heimo Juhani Franssila (54) — third and final victim; rich 54-year-old business manager with a villa in Heinola; died of an Abalgin overdose; the motive was the inheritance Taskinen would have been given; the men had lived in a registered partnership for the last four months.

Other details

Taskinen’s sentencing combined aggravated involuntary manslaughter, a manslaughter, and a murder.

Spotted an error, or have more information about this case?