A convicted serial killer has sparked outrage after reinventing himself as a social media influencer following his release from prison.
Marius Csampar was sentenced to 99 years behind bars in 1997 for six murders.
But after serving around 22 years, he was conditionally released in 2020.
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Since leaving prison, he has built a large following online, attracting nearly 160,000 followers on TikTok and more than 23,000 subscribers on YouTube.
He is also believed to earn a significant income by monetising his channels through advertising and donations from fans, as reported by Need To Know.
Csampar was orphaned at the age of 12 and ended up living on the streets, where he quickly turned to crime.
His first offences were theft and robbery in his home city of Bucharest, Romania.
But he later went on a brutal killing spree between 1994 and 1997 before finally being caught and convicted.
One of his most shocking crimes happened in 1994 when, in a violent rage, he reportedly decapitated a homeless man before throwing the victim’s head into a lake and dumping the body in a canal.
He also robbed an 84-year-old woman on New Year’s Eve before beating her to death, according to reports.
During the investigation, Csampar told detectives that some of his victims begged him to spare their lives in their final moments.
His extreme violence and apparent lack of remorse made him one of the most notorious serial killers in Romanian history.
Despite this, he was conditionally released five years ago after serving 22 years in prison for good behaviour.
The decision caused widespread criticism across the country, especially after he began gaining popularity online.
In his videos, he talks about his life of crime and his experiences adjusting to life outside prison.
He quickly attracted nearly 160,000 followers on TikTok and more than 23,000 subscribers on YouTube.
But his online presence continues to spark controversy.
He recently commented on the murder of Mario Berinde in January this year.
The victim was allegedly killed by a 13-year-old boy who was helped by two 15-year-old friends.
In a recent TikTok video, Csampar suggested the boy would not stop at one act of violence and claimed the teenager’s mother could be his “next victim”.
The remarks triggered heated debate online, with many saying his comments risk influencing public opinion in an already highly emotional case.
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