Bear in a Hat: A blog from Stetson's Program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies: Metal Fang

Let’s face it…

Planning a dinner party can be a stressful event.

If you ever found yourself in need of advice, however, it can be reasoned that someone like Dr. Hannibal Lecter would be more than happy to offer you his assurances, reminding you that it’s always nice to “have an old friend for dinner”.

Nikolai Dzhumagaliev, on the other hand, would probably tell you that prostitutes go better with the gravy.

Nikolai Dzhumagaliev was born in 1952, a native of modern-day Kazakhstan. Dzhumagaliev lived a relatively normal life until 1971, when –struck by inspiration to rid the world of prostitutes- he went on a rampage, slaughtering a number of women throughout the Soviet Union.

His modus operandi consisted of luring, raping, and slaughtering his victims with an axe or knife… not necessarily in that order. He is then reported to have cooked them up into “finger food”, or even use their flesh to prepare an elaborate “manti” dish that he would then serve to guests in his home. His nickname, the “Metal Fang”, comes from his eerily appropriate white metal teeth.

Dzhumagaliev was finally brought into custody in the early 1980’s (after an acquaintance at one of his own dinner parties found some unusual produce in his refrigerator). He was diagnosed with severe schizophrenia, and committed to a mental institution, which he then escaped from in 1989.

Dzhumagaliev was re-apprehended two years later while attempting to butcher another girl, but has since been released. His whereabouts are currently unknown, although it is been suggested that he still resides in Eastern Europe.

He was charged with seven cases of first-degree murder in all, though many people speculate his actual death-count could be very close to 100.

Just something to consider while we make our pelmeni. ;)