Marius Csampar, once one of Romania’s most notorious serial killers, has sparked outrage by reinventing himself as a social media influencer since his release from prison
A convicted murderer once regarded as one of Romania’s most notorious serial killers has sparked fresh outrage after reinventing himself as a social media influencer following his release from prison.
Marius Csampar was originally handed a staggering 99-year prison sentence in 1997 after being found guilty of six brutal killings. Despite the length of the sentence, he was granted conditional release in 2020 after serving around 22 years behind bars.
Since leaving prison, Csampar has built a surprisingly large online following, amassing almost 160,000 followers on TikTok and more than 23,000 subscribers on YouTube. Through these platforms, he regularly shares videos discussing his past crimes and his experiences adapting to life outside prison.
According to reports cited by NeedToKnow, the former killer is also believed to generate a substantial income through advertising revenue and donations from followers who support his online content.
Csampar’s path to becoming one of Romania’s most infamous criminals began with a troubled childhood. He lost both parents at the age of 12 and ended up living on the streets, where he quickly drifted into criminal activity.
His early offenses involved theft and robbery in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, but his crimes escalated dramatically during the mid-1990s. Between 1994 and 1997, Csampar carried out a series of violent murders that shocked Romania. Many of his victims were particularly vulnerable members of society, including homeless people and the elderly.
One of the most disturbing killings occurred in 1994 when he allegedly attacked a homeless man during a violent outburst. Reports from the time claim the victim was decapitated before Csampar threw the head into a nearby lake and disposed of the body in a canal.
In another brutal attack, he robbed an 84-year-old woman on New Year’s Eve and then fatally beat her. Investigators later revealed that during police questioning, Csampar admitted some victims had pleaded with him to spare their lives during their final moments.
The brutality of the crimes and his apparent lack of remorse cemented his reputation as one of the most feared serial killers in modern Romanian history. Despite this notoriety, he became eligible for parole after serving just over two decades in prison due to the country’s sentencing and early release laws, as well as his reported good behaviour while incarcerated.
His release five years ago was met with strong criticism from many Romanians, who felt the punishment did not reflect the severity of his crimes. Public anger has resurfaced in recent months as Csampar’s social media presence has continued to grow. In many of his videos, he speaks openly about his violent past and discusses what life is like after spending decades behind bars.
However, his online activity has also sparked controversy after he commented on a recent murder case. The victim, Mario Berinde, was killed in January in a case that shocked the country. Authorities allege the attack was carried out by a 13-year-old boy with assistance from two 15-year-old friends.
In a recent TikTok video discussing the case, Csampar suggested the young suspect would not stop at a single act of violence and claimed the teenager’s mother could become his “next victim.”
The remarks quickly ignited fierce debate online, with critics arguing that a convicted serial killer commenting publicly on an ongoing and emotionally charged case could risk shaping public opinion. Others questioned whether someone responsible for such brutal crimes should be able to build a lucrative online following at all.
The controversy highlights the uneasy reality that one of Romania’s most infamous killers has managed to transform himself from a feared criminal into a social media personality — a shift that continues to divide public opinion.
