K. P. Jayanandan, known as “Ripper” Jayanandan, was born in 1968 in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India. Details of his early life remain sparse, but he came from a lower socio-economic background and began committing petty thefts and burglaries as a young man. Over time, his crimes grew bolder, darker, and deadlier. He developed a reputation as a cunning, slippery criminal who was deeply familiar with Kerala’s geography and capable of planning crimes with precision. By the early 2000s, he had transformed from a petty thief into a violent predator targeting households in the border areas of Thrissur and Ernakulam.

Jayanandan’s ability to stay off the radar despite multiple criminal offenses baffled authorities. He was known to live off the grid, moving between rural areas, using bicycles for travel, and blending into communities with ease. His offenses were opportunistic, and his brutality escalated with each break-in. His nickname, “Ripper,” was earned due to the violent and gruesome nature of his attacks, drawing comparisons to the infamous Jack the Ripper, although his motive was primarily robbery with lethal force used against any resistance.

Jayanandan’s killing spree began in September 2003 in Mala, Thrissur, when he broke into the home of 45-year-old Jose and bludgeoned him to death with a crowbar before stealing ₹17,000 and a video cassette player. His second known attack came in March 2004, again in Mala, where he forcefully entered a home and killed 51-year-old Nabeesa, and her daughter 23-year-old Fousiya, while injuring another woman and two children who were present.

In October 2004, he committed a double murder in Perinjanam, Thrissur district, killing elderly couple Kalapurackkal Sahadevan (64) and Nirmala (58) to steal gold ornaments. He didn’t stop there. Jayanandan attacked another couple, Aravindaksha Panicker and Omana Panicker, in Kodungallur, inflicting serious injuries and stealing 18 sovereigns of gold. His final confirmed murder took place in August 2005 at a government beverage outlet in North Paravoor, where he killed security guard Subhashakan using an iron rod.

Throughout these crimes, he left a pattern—targeting homes or establishments late at night, bludgeoning victims with iron objects, and stealing valuables. His spree spanned over 35 burglaries, but it was the seven murders that made him a high-profile figure across Kerala. His ability to vanish after each crime added a layer of mystery and fear.

In 2007, he was finally arrested and tried for multiple offenses. In June 2008, a Thrissur Principal Sessions Court sentenced him to death by hanging for the murders, especially emphasizing the double homicide in Perinjanam. He was incarcerated at Poojapura Central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram, awaiting execution.

However, in June 2013, Jayanandan pulled off a stunning prison escape. Using hacksaw blades, he and other inmates cut through a padlocked grill, used bed sheets to make a rope, and climbed over the prison wall. Surveillance systems were down due to a power failure, and the escape embarrassed the Kerala police and prison department. His methods, though crude, revealed his deep criminal instinct and knack for exploiting weaknesses.

After more than three months on the run, he was caught on 9 September 2013 at Nellayi, near Thrissur, while trying to fix his bicycle. Police acted on a tip and arrested him without resistance.

Since his re-arrest, he has remained in high-security imprisonment. His case sparked widespread discussions on prison security lapses and the need for reform in the criminal justice system. While sentenced to death, as of now, no execution has taken place, and Jayanandan remains imprisoned, infamous as one of Kerala’s most brutal serial killers.