Juhani Aataminpoika

Juhani Aataminpoika (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈjuhɑni ˈɑːtɑminˌpoi̯kɑ]; born 31 July 1826 in Vesivehmaa, Asikkala – September 1854 in Suomenlinna), alias Kerpeikkari (Finnish: [ˈkerpei̯kːɑri]), was a Finnish serial killer. He killed 12 people in southern Finland between October and November of 1849. He has been characterized as the first serial killer in Finland.

Juhani Aataminpoika
1849 lithography of Juhani Aataminpoika
by Johan Knutson[1]
Born
Johan Adamsson

31 July 1826
Vesivehmaa, Finland
DiedSeptember 1854 (aged 28)
Suomenlinna, Finland
Other names"Kerpeikkari"
Conviction(s)Murder
Criminal penaltyDeath; commuted to life imprisonment plus 40 lashes
Details
Victims12
Span of crimes
October – November 1849
CountryFinland
Date apprehended
20 November 1849

Biography

Juhani Aataminpoika left home at the age of 15, living a nomadic life and conducting small crimes. In October 1849, he was charged with stealing horses and imprisoned. During his imprisonment, he was taken from the Hämeenlinna prison to Hauho, where the court was to be held on his crimes. During the transportation, he escaped, starting a homicidal spree. In Lammi he killed the master and mistress of the Helisevä croft with a man named Kustaa Kratula. From there, he went back to his home in Heinola, where he killed his father and mother and their two children before fleeing to the forest.[2][3]

Shortly afterwards, he killed a man to get his certificate to get a job at a canal site. Juhani Aataminpoika travelled to the Saimaa Canal, killing more people on the way. He didn't stay at the canal work site but killed a sailor in order to get his papers.

At the beginning of November, Aataminpoika returned to Lammi, from which he left with his friend Antti Suikko to go to the Tyry croft in the village of Hattelmala. The men trashed the house, stealing their money and maiming the tenants. The elderly mistress of the house died later from her injuries but the others managed to survive the attack.[2]

Shortly thereafter, on 20 November, Juhani Aataminpoika was caught in Palsa near Lammi and Padasjoki border. At the end of the trial following the recapture, the Vyborg Court of Appeal sentenced him to death. The sentence was upheld in the Senate's Department of Justice, but the Emperor commuted it to 40 lashes and a life imprisonment sentence. He was transferred in January 1853 to Suomenlinna and was kept there, chained to the wall, until his death in 1854.[2][3]

Juhani Aataminpoika was also known by the nickname "Kerpeikkari", which is coined from Swedish word skarprättare, meaning 'executioner'.[2] He was famous in his own time, but his actions were eventually forgotten and he did not end up with the same level of fame as for example Matti Haapoja. In the 2000s, however, he once again sparked an interest in researchers.

Film

A movie about Juhani Aataminpoika's life is still in the planning stages. The script is written by Kari Hietalahti, and the film is to be directed by Peter Franzén. Earlier plans were to see the movie released by the autumn of 2017, but as of 2022, the film has yet to be financed, putting it in production limbo.[4]

See also

Sources
  • Hämeenlinnan Kaupunkiuutisten artikkeli vuodelta 2003 (Archive.org)
  • Kaijus Ervasti (1992). The Murmansk Portrait: Matti Haapoja 1845-1895. Helsinki. ISBN 951-37-0976-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Keskisarja, Teemu (2008). "A Finnish serial killer" (in Finnish). Science. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

References
  1. Johan Knutsonin kivipiirros moninkertaisesta murhamiehestä Juhani Aataminpojasta
  2. Suomenlinnaan vangittiin ihmisiä vihaava peto – Juhani Aataminpoika kierteli Hämettä ja murhasi vastaantulijoita (in Finnish)
  3. Suomen historian pahin sarjamurhaaja tappoi 12 ihmistä – Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish)
  4. Veli-Pekka Lehtonen (1 November 2016). "A film is pending on the only Finnish serial killer". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish).

Literature
  • Jarmo Haapalainen (2007). Twelve murders in five weeks, Heinola's "beast" Finnish record (in Finnish). Heinola. ISBN 978-952-99946-0-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • The only serial killer in Finland. Juhani Aataminpoika's crimes and punishment (in Finnish). Teemu Keskisarja. 2008. ISBN 978-951-796-538-5.
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