He told police it started with a dream — his late father's ghost, he claimed, instructed him to drink the saliva of 70 young women to become a powerful mystic. He never reached that number, but he came close.
Ahmad Suradji, an Indonesian shaman known as "the Black Magic Killer," was convicted of murdering at least 42 women and girls between 1986 and 1997 in North Sumatra, Indonesia. He was executed by firing squad in 2008.
A Trusted Spiritual Healer
Suradji worked as a dukun, a traditional Indonesian shaman, and had built a reputation as someone people turned to for help with beauty, wealth, and relationship troubles. Women came to him seeking spells or rituals meant to make them more attractive, more prosperous, or to keep their partners faithful.
A Ritual Used to Disguise Murder
Suradji claimed a 1986 dream in which his deceased father instructed him to drink the saliva of 70 young women in order to gain mystical healing powers. Given the ages of many of his victims, some as young as 11, and the severity of what followed, we won't detail the specific methods of the killings here beyond confirming that Suradji lured women and girls to a sugarcane plantation near his home under the guise of a spiritual ritual, then killed them there over the following eleven years.
Discovery and Arrest
In 1997, police discovered multiple bodies buried at the plantation, all facing a consistent direction relative to Suradji's home. He was arrested and, in a detail that drew wide public attention, told investigators he had originally set out to reach a target of 70 victims but decided against waiting to encounter that many naturally.
Trial and Execution
Suradji was convicted of the murders and sentenced to death. His wife, Tumini, was also convicted for her role in helping dispose of victims' belongings and was sentenced to life in prison. Suradji was executed by firing squad on July 10, 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people did Ahmad Suradji kill?
He was convicted of at least 42 murders, committed between 1986 and 1997.
Was Suradji ever executed?
Yes. He was executed by firing squad on July 10, 2008.
Was anyone else convicted in connection with the case?
Yes. His wife, Tumini, was convicted for helping dispose of victims' belongings and was sentenced to life in prison.