Belarusian ‘Elevator Maniac’ Caught After Nearly 30 Years

MINSK – Law enforcement in Belarus has announced the dramatic capture of a serial killer, dubbed the ‘Elevator Maniac,’ whose elusive reign of terror spanned the late 1990s and left a trail of fear across multiple regions. The apprehension, nearly three decades after his last confirmed crime, has sent ripples through Belarusian society, uniting citizens and expatriates alike in a shared sense of relief and apprehension regarding persistent cold cases.

Alexander Kopyshev, Chief of the Criminal Police Department at the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs, shed light on the exhaustive operation that finally led to the suspect’s arrest. The manhunt, which involved scrutinizing approximately 100,000 individuals over the years, culminated in the identification of 53-year-old Yury Demyanov. He is now confirmed to be responsible for the murders of eight girls and young women, aged between 12 and 20, in Mogilev, Vitebsk, Orsha, and Zhodino.

Demyanov, a seemingly unremarkable employee at a Mogilev enterprise, had become a chilling urban legend. His modus operandi involved stalking fragile, diminutive victims near high-rise buildings, often assaulting and murdering them in elevators, stairwells, or on rooftops. Initial investigations treated the cases separately, but forensic and circumstantial evidence, including eyewitness accounts and the attacker’s distinct methods, eventually led investigators to consolidate the crimes, recognizing their serial nature.

The breakthrough came following a 2024 directive by the Minister of Internal Affairs to establish specialized cold case units in each region. This renewed effort, combined with advancements in forensic technology, proved instrumental. Kopyshev revealed that Demyanov had briefly come under police suspicion in 1999, an incident that prompted him to cease his attacks, fearing detection. He subsequently adopted an isolated lifestyle, without a family, and intentionally avoided any further contact with law enforcement.

At a press conference, officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Investigative Committee, and the State Forensic Examination Committee presented a video detailing the crimes and showing the moment of Demyanov’s arrest as he cycled unwittingly through the streets of Mogilev. Alexander Agafonov, Chief of the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee, confirmed that while Demyanov has a diagnosed mental disorder, experts have determined he was legally sane at the time of the offenses, meaning he will be held accountable in court.

Tatiana Dubinich-Fedorova, Head of the Genetic Examinations Department at the State Forensic Examination Committee, emphasized how modern technology enables the resolution of even decades-old cases. However, officials also acknowledged the immense workload ahead: over 75,000 crimes remain unsolved in Belarus, with 30% falling into the serious and especially serious categories. Kopyshev assured the public that the Ministry of Internal Affairs remains committed to resolving these outstanding cases.

As Belarusian television broadcasts daily interrogations where Demyanov reportedly recounts details of his crimes without remorse, legal experts ponder the suitable penalty. Given the extensive time lapsed since the offenses, the case is procedurally complex. Nevertheless, law enforcement officials indicate that Demyanov could face either life imprisonment or the death penalty – the latter being a unique feature of Belarus’s judicial system as the only European country to still apply capital punishment in exceptional circumstances. Investigators continue to probe whether Demyanov’s claimed cessation of attacks after 1999 is indeed true, or if further hidden crimes await discovery.