Due to the graphic nature of this killer's crimes, listener discretion is advised.

This episode contains discussions of murder, torture, rape, assault, and necrophilia.

We advise extreme caution for listeners under 13.

In the summer of 1999, a group of mushroom foragers picked their way through the woods of southern Russia,

near Lake Baikal.

It had been a dry month, so the friends had to venture deep into the forest to find the precious fungi.

Their efforts hadn't been in vain, though.

One of the group members led out an excited yell as they discovered a trove of morals under a mossy log.

The elated band knelt down to gather their treasure when one of them heard something odd.

It sounded like a wounded animal struggling to breathe.

Curious, the group went to investigate.

They pushed through the foliage, stepping over leaves and fallen branches,

until they came upon a horrifying sight.

Lying in the brush was a woman, no older than 18.

She was naked and mutilated, with hundreds of puncture wounds all over her body and a bloody gash in her head.

It was like she'd been attacked by some vicious animal, but a closer look told another story.

The woman's neck was purple and raw, ringed in bruises, the size of two human hands.

Hi, I'm Greg Polson.

This is Serial Killers, a Spotify original from Parkcast.

Every episode we dive into the minds and madness of Serial Killers.

Today, we're investigating Mihail Popkov, Russia's Werewolf Killer.

I'm here with my co-host, Vanessa Richardson.

...