Bio

Hugo Schenk was born on February 11, 1849. He grew up in Vienna, Austria. Little information is available about his childhood or his family life. However, he became a well-known figure in Vienna as he got older.

Schenk was described as tall and handsome. He was well-mannered and spoke several languages fluently. He presented himself like a gentleman. Schenk used his charm and good looks to attract women in the city. He often pretended to be a Polish count named Winopolsky, claiming to have noble connections and wealth.

Schenk's life took a turn when he was imprisoned for two years. After being released in March 1883, he began a troubling pattern of behavior. He started to correspond with many women, even as many as 50, often making them believe he had grand plans and intentions with them.

He would meet these women through advertisements in local papers. He often used deception to convince them to trust him. He claimed to be a Nihilist agent and said he had uncles in America. He would invite women to secluded locations under the pretense of romance or marriage.

During this time, he had a girlfriend named Emily Höchsmann. Schenk spent some of the money he earned from his crimes on her. He kept their relationship secret, but he also continued to pursue other women. His life was marked by manipulations and deceit, laying the groundwork for his later actions.

Murder Story

Hugo Schenk was active in Vienna, Austria, during the year 1883. His known victims include Josephine Timal, Katharina Timal, Therese Ketterl, and Rosa Ferenczy.

Schenk approached his victims by pretending to be a wealthy Polish count named Winopolsky. He gained their trust before inviting them to secluded areas under the guise of romance. Once alone, he committed sexual assault, stole their belongings, and then murdered them. Schenk often disposed of the bodies by tying heavy stones to them and throwing them into the icy waters of the Danube River.

At times, Schenk's brother assisted him in these crimes. He plotted future murders even while disposing of previous victims, as he was continuously looking for new targets. He was known to be charming and had corresponded with about 50 women, whom he viewed as potential victims.

In some instances, Schenk employed more elaborate tactics. He once invited Therese Ketterl to play Russian Roulette, secretly loading the gun before handing it to her. This demonstrated his manipulative nature and how he turned games into death traps.

Schenk was arrested on January 10, 1884, after multiple murders had been uncovered. His planned escape to America with his girlfriend Emily Höchsmann highlighted his intentions and ambition for a life free of consequence. His capture led to investigations that connected him to numerous other crimes, which hinted that he might have been involved in many more murders than those he was charged with.

The authorities found Schenk guilty of several murders, leading to his execution by hanging on April 22, 1884. His skull is now preserved in Vienna's Kriminalmuseum, serving as a reminder of his criminal activities.