Ansis Kaupēns
| Ansis Kaupēns | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Ansis Alberts Kaupēns November 2, 1895 Courland Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died |
May 6, 1927 (aged 31) Vircava Parish, Latvia |
| Cause of death | Hanging |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Conviction(s) | Murder |
| Details | |
| Victims | 90 |
Span of crimes | 1920–1926 |
| Country | Latvia |
Date apprehended | June 8, 1926 |
Ansis Alberts Kaupēns (born November 2, 1895 in Jelgava Municipality - May 6, 1927 in Vircava Parish) was a Latvian robber and serial killer; perhaps, the most famous Latvian criminal of the interwar period.
Kaupēns was born in 1895 and baptized near the Vetsplaton parish.[1] In 1916 he began serving in the Imperial Russian Army, and after that for the Red Army's 9th Latvian Riflemen Regiment[2] (with the sergeant rank)[3], but in 1919 or 1920, he deserted and returned to live in Latvia. He committed his first robbery on January 29, 1920 and the last on May 29, 1926. During this period, more than 30 robberies and 90 murders were supposedly committed. He was also an observer in Jelgava during the day. He was even able to stop and rob a passenger train (on September 27, 1923 between Viesīte and Daugava), but mostly robbed on highways. Arrested on June 8, 1926 and sentenced to death, Kaupēns was executed by hanging on May 6, 1927. He was buried in Svēte Parish.
The life of Kaupēns became the basis of several books and films,[4] such as Andris Grūtups' 2001 book Tiesāšanās kā māksla and the 2011 film Kaupēns, which was based on his crimes.
References