Russian Gambler Poisons Parents, Police Suspect Multiple Victims

A Russian gambler has been caught poisoning his parents in order to inherit their money. The man’s parents luckily survived but the police believe that others might have not been so lucky.

A Gambling-Motivated Poisoner

Artyom Missyura, 25, worked as a math tutor and was an avid gambler. He lived with his parents and sister in the city of Balashikha, a 30 minute drive from Moscow.

During his time gambling, Missyura had accumulated large debts, according to reports. His irresponsible gambling was hard to sustain which is believed to have led him to committing his heinous crime.

Missyura is believed to have started poisoning his relatives in January, adding a poisonous chemical to their food and water. While the prosecution refused to name the substance, they said that it eventually caused his mother and stepfather to be hospitalized.

Missyura’s relatives were admitted to a hospital in June, roughly six months after the poisoning began. The doctors were initially unable to diagnose their sickness but suspected foul play and told the police to install hidden cameras inside their apartment.

The cameras finally confirmed that Missyura had been poisoning his parents all along. In a shocking revelation, the police learned that almost all the food at the parents’ home had been laced with poison.

Missyura was eventually arrested and confessed to the poisonings. He also confirmed that his despicable actions had been motivated by desire for money as he hoped to inherit and sell off his parents’ property to pay off his gambling debts.  

There Are Other Victims, the Police Believe

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end here as Missyura, who’s been charged with attempted murder, might have actually had other victims too.

His grandmother, for example, had lent him approximately half a million rubles before she died suddenly aged 69. The police suspect foul play since the man never repaid the debt.

Additionally, one of Missyura’s friends died suddenly shortly after drinking juice given to him by the poisoner, causing further suspicions.

To make matters worse, Missyura’s ex-girlfriend was hospitalized over kidney problems. By the time she was discharged, the man had taken out a loan of over half a million rubles in her name. The ex-girlfriend’s brother had also fallen sick after being served a crab salad by Missyura.

Russian reporters reached out to one of his friends who described him as a money-obsessed lunatic who would steal things from other people without an ounce of remorse. The friend also confirmed that Missyura was heavily indebted because of his gambling.