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Murder of Katarzyna Zowada

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Murder of Katarzyna Zowada
DateBetween 12 November 1998 and 6 January 1999
TypeMurder, dismemberment and skinning
MotiveSexual[1]
SuspectsRobert Janczewski
ChargesMurder with particular cruelty

Katarzyna Zowada (born 1 June 1975) was a student at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland who was tortured and killed by Robert Janczewski in late 1998 or early 1999. After her death, Janczewski interfered with Zowada's corpse through dismemberment and skinning.[2] Janczewski was convicted and jailed in 2018 and released on 31 October 2024, by the Kraków appeals court, 2nd criminal division.[3]

Katarzyna Zowada

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Zowada was 23 years old at the time of her death. She was a theology student at Jagiellonian University in Kraków who was described as kind, but quiet.[4] Her disappearance became evident on 12 November 1998 when she failed to meet her mother at a psychiatric clinic in Nowa Huta, where she had been treated for depression.[5]

Discovery of remains

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On 6 January 1999, while the tugboat Elk was stationed near the Dąbie barrage on the Vistula river, the crew found human skin on the boat's propeller. DNA tests indicated the skin was Zowada's. Forensic testing showed that the skin had been dissected from the body and prepared in such a way as to make a piece of clothing. On 14 January, Zowada's right leg was recovered from the river.[6] The corpse had been dismembered and decapitated.[7]

Investigation

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In 2000, the investigation into Zowada's death ended pending further information.[6] In 2012, with progress in forensic science, the investigation was re-activated and Zowada's remains were exhumed for further autopsy.[8] Scientists from the Wrocław Medical University created a model of Zowada's injuries. It was concluded that the perpetrator used a sharp instrument to cut Zowada's neck, armpit, and groin leading to her death through exsanguination.[5]

Forensic experts gave a profile of the murderer as someone who was sadistic, had a knowledge of dissection and preservation of skin, and may have studied a particular (undisclosed) martial art.[9][5]

Robert Janczewski

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Robert Janczewski was born in 1965 and lived in Kraków. He had worked in the human dissection laboratory and the Institute of Zoology at Jagiellonian University where animal skins were prepared. His employment was terminated when he killed all of the rabbits at the institute.[10] Janczewski had training in martial arts. He had a history of harassing women. He was known to Zowada and visited her grave. In 1999, Janczewski was a person of interest but at that time he was not arrested.

In 2017, Police received an incriminating letter from Janczewski's friend. The contents of the letter was not made public.[5] On 4 October 2017, after a search of the bathroom of his Kazimierz apartment found blood, Janczewski was arrested.[11] He was charged with aggravated murder with particular cruelty. He was kept on remand while Police continued their investigations.[11] In September 2019, prosecutors requested a closed trial.[12]

On 31 October 2024 the Court of Appeal found Robert Janczewski could no longer be held without trial, and he was released from custody.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Redakcja (13 January 2012). "Kraków: Policjanci z archiwum X na tropie makabrycznej zbrodni sprzed lat". Kraków Nasze Miasto (in Polish). Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  2. ^ Rosewood, Jack (2023). "Katarzyna Zowada". The most bizarre true crime stories ever told. United Kingdom: Hatchette. ISBN 9781408731093.
  3. ^ "Notice regarding the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Kraków of 31 October 2024 issued in the case of Robert J. (reference number II AKa 392/23)". Krakow Court of Appeal. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  4. ^ Redakcja (13 January 2012). "Kraków: Policjanci z archiwum X na tropie makabrycznej zbrodni sprzed lat". Kraków Nasze Miasto (in Polish). Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d "Zbrodnia sprzed 19 lat: Eksperci pogrążyli Roberta J." www.rp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  6. ^ a b "SPRAWA ZABÓJSTWA 23-LETNIEJ STUDENTKI Z 1998 R." [THE CASE OF THE MURDER OF A 23-YEAR-OLD STUDENT IN 1998] (in Polish). 14 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Kraków ma własne "Archiwum X". Wydział rozwiązuje najbardziej tajemnicze sprawy kryminalne". 10 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Zamordowana i obdarta ze skóry. Śledczy szukają szczątków 23-letniej studentki - Polsat News" (in Polish). 14 October 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Zamordowana i obdarta ze skóry. Śledczy szukają szczątków 23-letniej studentki - Polsat News" (in Polish). 14 October 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Płaszcz z ludzkiej skóry w Wiśle. Reporterzy odkrywają nieznane fakty o zbrodni sprzed lat". TVN24.pl. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  11. ^ a b Banasik, Marcin (13 November 2018). "Kraków. Przełom ws. brutalnego zabójstwa sprzed 20 lat". Dziennik Polski (in Polish). Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Kraków: Śledczy chcą utajnienia procesu ws. wstrząsającego zabójstwa studentki Katarzyny Z. Chodzi o zbrodnię sprzed lat". Do rzeczy (in Polish). 10 September 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  13. ^ https://www.krakow.sa.gov.pl/komunikat-dotyczacy-wyroku-sadu-apelacyjnego-w-krakowie-z-dnia-31-pazdziernika-2024-r-wydanego-w-sprawie-roberta-j-sygn-akt-ii-aka-39223,new,mg,281.html,1181