Aleksandr Andreevich Rubel was born on December 25, 1980, in the Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. His family later moved to Estonia, settling in the capital city of Tallinn. As a teenager, Rubel developed a habit of inhaling gasoline vapors, which severely impaired his judgment and contributed to his violent behavior. He lived with his family in the Kopli district, an area known for its industrial landscape and socio-economic challenges. Rubel's substance abuse and lack of direction led him down a dark path during his adolescent years.

Between September 1997 and June 1998, Aleksandr Rubel committed a series of brutal murders in Tallinn, Estonia, while under the influence of gasoline fumes. His first victim was Tõnu Põld, a 45-year-old disabled neighbor whom Rubel attacked on September 19, 1997. Believing Põld would be unable to defend himself, Rubel stabbed him to death.

On November 7, 1997, Rubel's father, Andrei Rubel, stabbed Aleksei Pavlov four times, suspecting him of courting his wife. Aleksandr then strangled Pavlov and threw his body out of a third-floor window. Andrei was later convicted as an accessory to this murder and sentenced to seven years in prison.​

In early 1998, Rubel continued his killing spree:​

• Between January 22 and 24, he stabbed Jevgeni Shelest to death at Stroomi Beach.​
• On February 2, he decapitated Vladimir Ivanov with an axe after a brief interaction.​
• On February 9, he murdered Olga Voronkova, a neighbor in his apartment building.
• Between February 28 and March 1, he killed Vladimir Kinzerski in his home.​
• On June 4, he slit the throat of 15-year-old Alice Siivas in Paljassaare.​

Rubel was apprehended in June 1998 and, due to his age (17 at the time of the crimes), was tried as a minor. In February 1999, he was convicted of six murders and sentenced to the maximum penalty allowed for minors under Estonian law—eight years in prison. He served his sentence at Tartu Prison and was released on June 8, 2006. There have been speculations about his current whereabouts, with some reports suggesting he resides in Ukraine, while others claim he has returned to Estonia under a new identity.​