Lucian Staniak, given the label of “Red Spider,” was a serial killer who in the years of 1964-1967 committed six convicted murders in Poland. He was thought of as a “Jack the Ripper” type murderer.
He wrote letters to the press with scrawled out “spidery” like red –lettering, later discovered to be red artist’s paint thinned out with turpentine. These letters that were written gave him the nick name of “The Red Spider.”
The Red Spider was captured in 1967. Police had trailed him down based upon a murder he had committed before with the sister of another one of his victims and his love of art through a locker photo in an Art’s club he took part in that was of a mutilated woman. He was to be sentenced to death, but was committed to an insane asylum for life where it has been written he still paints.
Though it has been written that The Red Spider confessed to possibly more than 20 murders, he was only convicted of six for the years 1964-1967. He rode the train to get to where his victims might be at and most always approached them from behind. The Red Spider also, liked to kill his victims on public holidays and celebrations.
When caught, The Red Spider had listed a family tragedy of his sister and mother being killed in an auto accident as the reason for the first victim.
Dana Maciejowitz was killed on July 22nd , 1964. She was found in shrubbery, raped and disemboweled.
Aniuta Kaliniak was killed on January 17th ,1965. She was found in the basement of a leather factory. Strangulation with a wire garrote was discovered. After she had been deceased, The Red Spider removed a sidewalk grate and a six-inch metal spike was found protruding from her genital area.
Janka Popielski was killed on November 1st, 1965 on All Saints Day. She was subdued with Chloroform and dragged behind a pile of packing crates. The Red Spider removed her clothing from the waste down and raped her. She was stabbed to death with a screwdriver. Her body was horribly mutilated. After the murder was committed, she was shoved into one of the crates where she was later discovered.
Marysia Galazka was killed on May 1st, 1966 on the day of celebration for a combination holiday of Labor Day and Communists Party’s Primary Day of rejoicing. She was found in the tool shed behind her house. Her body was grossly mutilated and her entrails were piled across her things. She was raped before her body was mutilated.
Jania Kozieska was murdered on December 24th, 1966. She was found in the train that went from Krakow to Warsaw in a reserved compartment. The leather mini-skirt she was wearing was shredded by a knife as well as her lower abdomen and her thighs.
Bozhena Raczkiewicz was murdered on January 31st, 1967. She was a student of The Institute of Cinematic Graphic Arts. It was discovered that she was hit with a Vodka bottle. Her skirt and panties were cut off and her body was terribly mutilated.
July 4th, 1964, a letter arrived to Marian Starzynski the editor of The Prezegland Polityczny. In this letter with writing of the red ink, words of The Red Spider were read:
“There is no happiness without tears, no life without death. Beware! I am going to make you cry.”
July 24th, 1964 , a letter was sent to a Warsaw newspaper in the same red ink words of The Red Spider:
“I picked a juicy flower in Olsztyn and I shall do it again somewhere else, for there is no holiday without a funeral.”
November 2nd, 1965, a letter was sent to the Ponza newspaper with the familiar red ink letter of the Red Spider:
“Only tears of sorrow can wash out the stains of shame; only pangs of suffering can blot out the fires of Lust.”
December 24th, 1966, a letter was discovered with the same familiar tone of The Red Spider shoved between a slot after the murder of Janina Kozielska on a train:
“I have done it again.”
The Red Spider is a mystery to some on the exact reasons why he committed the murders. Though it has been said he confessed to more than 20 murders, it has not been proved that the others were done by him.
Information is seldom hard to find on this ruthless serial killer because of the time frame and that media was often covered to the public at that time in the area of Poland.
The last current information about The Red Spider is that he still resides in the insane asylum and paints.
All of our Serial Killer Magazines and books are massive, perfect bound editions. These are not the kind of flimsy magazines or tiny paperback novels that you are accustomed to. These are more like giant, professionally produced graphic novels.
We are happy to say that the Serial Killer Trading Cards are back! This 90 card set features the artwork of 15 noted true crime artists and will come with a numbered, signed certificate of authenticity for each set. get yours now before they are gone forever.
SERIAL KILLER MAGAZINE is an official release of the talented artists and writers at SerialKillerCalendar.com. It is chock full of artwork, rare documents, FBI files and in depth articles regarding serial murder. It is also packed with unusual trivia, exclusive interviews with the both killers and experts in the field and more information that any other resource available to date. Although the magazine takes this subject very seriously and in no way attempts to glorify the crimes describe in it, it also provides a unique collection of rare treats (including mini biographical comics, crossword puzzles and trivia quizzes). This is truly a one of a kind collectors item for anyone interested in the macabre world of true crime, prison art or the strange world of murderabelia.
All of our Serial Killer books are massive, 8.5" x 11" perfect bound editions. These are not the kind of tiny paperback novels that you are accustomed to. These are more like giant, professionally produced graphic novels.
We are now looking for artists, writers and interviewers to take part in the world famous Serial Killer Magazine. If you are interested in joining our team, contact us at MADHATTERDESIGN@GMAIL.COM
