Tamara Mitrofanovna Samsonova was known as the 'Granny Ripper' (Image: Wikipedia)

Russian pensioner Tamara Samsonova dubbed the "Granny Ripper" may have appeared like an ordinary grandmother - but she became one of Russia's most brutal and prolific serial killers, reports the Mirror .

Currently in her late 70s, Samsonova was born in Siberia's unforgiving territory in 1947, whilst Russia was still recovering from World War Two's financial and social devastation. Whilst little is documented about her early years, records show she relocated to Moscow as a young adult before eventually settling in St Petersburg, where she wed a man called Alexei.

According to her few remaining acquaintances, she led an ordinary existence in the city, holding various positions within the tourism sector.

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