Aleksandr Ivanovich Berlizov was born on October 12, 1946, in the city of Tikhoretsk, located in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Not much is publicly known about his early life, family background, or education, but records indicate that by 1970, Berlizov had earned a position at Yuzhmash, one of the Soviet Union’s most important and secretive industrial facilities. Located in the Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk (now Dnipro), Yuzhmash was responsible for manufacturing missiles, rockets, and aerospace technology, and only those considered trustworthy by the regime were allowed to work there.

At work, Berlizov maintained a respectable facade. He had been the secretary of a local Komsomol (Communist Youth League) organization and was seen as an active and trusted member of the community. He even joined a volunteer detachment that collaborated with law enforcement to patrol neighborhoods and assist with criminal investigations.

Aleksandr Berlizov began his reign of terror shortly after relocating to Dnipropetrovsk in 1970. His attacks always occurred at night, earning him the nickname “The Night Demon.” His modus operandi followed a chilling pattern: he would stalk and isolate women in the evening or nighttime hours, ambush them in quiet streets or alleyways, and strangle them until they lost consciousness. Once his victims were unconscious, he would proceed to rape them. If any of the women regained consciousness mid-assault and saw his face, Berlizov would strangle them to death to eliminate witnesses.

This method of partially silencing his victims meant that many of his early crimes went undetected or were dismissed as isolated sexual assaults. His ability to leave no trace behind frustrated even the most skilled investigators. Police launched a city-wide operation involving over 3,000 officers, sweeping through attics, basements, abandoned cottages, and other secluded areas in search of the elusive predator. Terrified, women in the city began avoiding the streets after sunset, and a wave of panic gripped the region.

Sensing the increased patrols and fearing capture, Berlizov temporarily paused his crimes. He laid low, waiting for law enforcement to relax their guard. When the reinforcements were eventually withdrawn from the area, he resumed his attacks.

It was a single survivor who finally turned the tide. One of his victims, though raped, had regained consciousness during the assault and silently observed Berlizov’s face without alerting him. Though she could not provide a composite sketch, she claimed with certainty that she could recognize him again.

For nearly a month, the Head Deputy of the Dnipropetrovsk Department of Internal Affairs, Anatoly Tokar, personally accompanied the victim throughout the city. They walked together through public places hoping she might spot the man who had attacked her. One day, while riding a tram, she saw him. It was Berlizov. He escaped the scene before Tokar could act, but Tokar memorized his face and later produced a detailed sketch.

To the shock of investigators, Berlizov was not an outsider or a drifter. He was one of them. He had served in Komsomol youth leadership and had even volunteered for civilian patrols to assist police. This meant he had full access to internal operations and was fully aware of law enforcement tactics, which explained his uncanny ability to avoid detection for years.

Despite growing suspicions, the prosecutor’s office initially refused to issue an arrest warrant. Officials claimed it was impossible that a Yuzhmash employee could be capable of such crimes. Nonetheless, investigators continued to monitor Berlizov discreetly.

Detectives eventually observed that Berlizov wore rare imported footwear. When shoe prints at multiple crime scenes were analyzed, they matched the tread of his shoes exactly. Investigators then conducted a search of his residence, where they discovered trophies taken from several of his rape and murder victims. More items were found at his parents' home in Stavropol, confirming that Berlizov had been collecting these objects as mementos of his crimes.

Berlizov was arrested in 1974 and subjected to psychiatric evaluation. While he was found to be mentally competent to stand trial, he was officially classified as a sexual psychopath.

His trial was swift. He was convicted of nine murders and 42 rapes. The court sentenced him to death. That same year, during the summer of 1974, Aleksandr Berlizov was executed by firing squad in the Dnipropetrovsk detention center.