Roman Podkopaev was born around 1978 in Russia. By profession, he was a registered dentist, a career that, on paper, suggested a respectable and stable life. He lived with his wife Inessa Tarverdiyeva, a former nursery school teacher, and their children in the village of Divnoye in Stavropol Krai. Outwardly, they appeared to be a typical suburban family. However, behind this facade was a twisted world of violence, robbery, and revenge.

Little is known about Podkopaev’s childhood or early life, but by the time he married Inessa, he had already attracted suspicion. He was reportedly involved in the mysterious death of Inessa’s first husband, a case never officially solved, yet often cited in media speculation.

The murder spree officially began on February 17, 2008, when Podkopaev and his family broke into the home of Mikhail Zlydnev, a senior anti-drug officer, and killed him and his wife. The victims were first shot, then stabbed to death. Oddly, the gang only stole a jacket, a doublet, and a TV remote showing their crimes were often more symbolic and sadistic than profitable.

On July 17, 2008, they attacked a car traveling on a federal highway, killing Alexei Sazonov and wounding his partner, Julia Vasilyeva. Their actions were random yet calculated, and their victims were both civilians and officials.

In July 2009, the group committed one of their most notorious acts: the massacre of the Chudakov family including Lt. Col. Dmitry Chudakov, his wife, their young son, and daughter. All were brutally killed while on a road trip. Eleven-year-old Veronika Chudakova was stabbed 37 times. The killers took a laptop and hairdryer but left valuables like gold behind. An innocent man, Alexei Serenko, was wrongly jailed for two years for the crime due to flawed ballistic analysis.

In 2010, two teenage girls, who were said to be Inessa’s goddaughter, were tortured and murdered. Their eyes were gouged out before they were killed. Inessa later stated, “My husband shot them,” suggesting Roman was the one who executed the victims, while she was present.

From 2012 to 2013, the spree escalated. Roman murdered security guards, a taxi driver, a grocery store employee, and police inspector Nikolai Kutsekon. On April 24, 2013, he shot police lieutenant Andrei Yurin, who was heading out for a late-night drive. Although the gang failed to breach the Yurin home, his murder further intensified the manhunt.

The crime wave ended on September 8, 2013. After killing a police officer and robbing a military officer’s home, Roman and his stepdaughter Viktoria attempted to escape on a scooter. They were stopped by officer Ivan Shakhovoi. Instead of showing ID, Podkopaev opened fire, killing Shakhovoi. A second officer was wounded but managed to call for backup. A firefight broke out. Roman Podkopaev was shot and killed on the spot, while Viktoria was captured, injured.

Hours later, Inessa and Anastasiya were arrested at a nearby encampment stocked with over 20 firearms, silencers, grenades, and items stolen from previous victims. Investigators linked the family to dozens of unsolved killings across the region.

In the aftermath, multiple family members stood trial in 2017 and 2023. Inessa and Viktoria were sentenced to 21 and 25 years respectively, while Sergei Sinelnik was later re-sentenced to life.