Vladimir Mihajlovich Ionesyan was born on August 27, 1937, in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, into an Armenian family. From a young age, he exhibited musical talent, particularly in singing, which led his parents to encourage his artistic pursuits. He attended music school and later enrolled in the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, aiming for a career in opera. However, his life took a tumultuous turn due to a series of legal issues. In 1954, he was convicted of theft and received a suspended sentence. Later, in 1959, he faced imprisonment for evading military service, claiming a nervous illness. After serving his sentence, he struggled to find stable employment and eventually moved to Orenburg, where he worked in a local theater. There, he met Alevtina Dmitrieva, a ballerina, and began an affair with her, leaving behind his wife and child. To impress Dmitrieva, he falsely claimed to be a KGB agent and promised her a successful career in Moscow. Facing financial difficulties and unable to fulfill his promises, Ionesyan resorted to criminal activities.

Between December 1963 and January 1964, Ionesyan embarked on a violent spree across Moscow and Ivanovo. Posing as a Mosgaz employee, he gained access to apartments under the pretense of checking gas equipment. 

His victims included:
December 20, 1963: 12-year-old Konstantin Sobolev in Moscow.
December 25, 1963: 12-year-old Mikhail Kuleshov and 74-year-old woman in Ivanovo.
December 25, 1963: 15-year-old Galina Petropavlovskaya in Ivanovo (survived).
December 28, 1963: 11-year-old Alexander Lisovets in Moscow.
January 8, 1964: 46-year-old Maria Ermakova in Moscow.

Ionesyan's crimes were characterized by extreme violence, often using an axe to bludgeon his victims. He stole trivial items, suggesting that theft was not his primary motive. The brutality of his actions shocked the public and authorities alike.

His arrest on January 12, 1964, in Kazan, was facilitated by a tip from Dmitrieva, who believed he was on a secret mission. The investigation and trial were swift; he was convicted on January 30 and executed the following day. Dmitrieva was sentenced to 15 years in prison but was released early in the 1970s.