Dr. Dmitru Panchenko
Author Rupert Furneaux, in his book The Medical Murderer, tells the story of a St Petersburg doctor named Panchenko who was a supplier of poisons, and was suspected of being involved in several murders.
In 1911 Patrick O'Brian De Lacy married the daughter of General and Madame Buturlin, they were extremely wealthy, but had bequeathed their fortune to their son Delacy. in an attempt to get his hands on their fortune Delacy decided to murder the entire family with cholera and diphtheria germs, obtained from Dr Panchenko, for the sum of 620.000 Roubles. Unfortunately for De Lacy, he was overheard telling his mistress, Madame Muraviora of his plans, and it was reported back to General Buturlin. DeLacy was arrested before he could carry out his scheme and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Panchenko, for his involvement in the plot, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. There is no evidence to connect Dimitru Panchenko with the Whitechapel murders. It is possible Panchenko may have been the basis for the Dr Alexander Pedachenko stories.
