Dariusz Kotwica: Difference between revisions
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'''Dariusz Paweł Kotwica''' (born 1986 in [[Opole]], [[Poland]]), known as the '''Euro Ripper''',<ref name=euro/> is an itinerant Polish criminal and [[serial killer]], responsible for at least three murders of pensioners in [[Austria]] and [[Sweden]]. Described as the "first European serial killer" who travelled using [[open border]]s,<ref name=brit>{{ |
'''Dariusz Paweł Kotwica''' (born 1986 in [[Opole]], [[Poland]]), known as the '''Euro Ripper''',<ref name=euro/> is an itinerant Polish criminal and [[serial killer]], responsible for at least three murders of pensioners in [[Austria]] and [[Sweden]]. Described as the "first European serial killer" who travelled using [[open border]]s,<ref name=brit>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/dariusz-pawel-kotwica-europe-first-serial-killer-serious-crimes-britain-poland-polish-sweden-austria-a6753326.html|title=Dariusz Pawel Kotwica: 'Europe's first serial killer' could have committed 'serious crimes' in Britain|author=Shehab Khan|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=29 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=through>{{Citeweb|url=http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114881,20561261,pierwszy-seryjny-morderca-ktory-mordowal-w-calej-europie.html|title=A serial killer from Opole killed throughout Europe. Will not be behind bars? He testified that he heard voices|author=jagor|publisher=''[[Wiadomości|Gazeta Wiadomości]]''|date=17 August 2016|language=Polish}}</ref> he is thought to be responsible for additional murders in the [[Netherlands]], [[Czech Republic]] and the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name=pole>{{Citeweb|url=https://polskie-echo.com/dariusz-pawel-kotwica-seryjny-morderca-w-anglii-i-w-europie/|title=Dariusz Paweł Kotwica serial killer in England and Europe|author=Łukasz Ł.|publisher=Polskie Echo|date=29 November 2015|language=Polish}}</ref> The mentally-ill Kotwica is currently in a treatment center in [[Göllersdorf]].<ref name=opole>{{cite news|url=http://opole.wyborcza.pl/opole/1,35086,20560610,wampir-z-metalchemu-skierowany-na-leczenie.html?disableRedirects=true|title=Vampire from Metalchemie directed for treatment. Will the Opole murderer avoid being behind bars?|newspaper=[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]|date=17 August 2016|language=Polish}}</ref><ref name=through/> |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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===Early life=== |
===Early life=== |
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Kotwica grew up in Metalchemie, a housing estate on the outskirts of Opole. Although described as an average, normal guy, he was known around the area for always wearing a tracksuit when walking around the blocks. Dariusz was raised solely by his mother, and never met his father. Despite his failing grades in school and [[truancy]], Kotwica was considered very intelligent, and was notably interested in [[Greek mythology]].<ref name=sent>{{ |
Kotwica grew up in Metalchemie, a housing estate on the outskirts of Opole. Although described as an average, normal guy, he was known around the area for always wearing a tracksuit when walking around the blocks. Dariusz was raised solely by his mother, and never met his father. Despite his failing grades in school and [[truancy]], Kotwica was considered very intelligent, and was notably interested in [[Greek mythology]].<ref name=sent>{{cite news|url=https://www.expressen.se/gt/dariusz-kotwica-30-doms-for-mord/|title=Dariusz Kotwica, 30, sentenced for murder|author=Jonathan Berntsson|newspaper=[[Expressen]]|date=16 August 2016|language=Swedish}}</ref> Sometime around 2005, he left his native Poland and began travelling around Europe,<ref name=opole/> first settling to live in [[England]] for several years.<ref name=pole/><ref name=brit/> |
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==Crimes== |
==Crimes== |
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Prior to his murders, Kotwica is currently known to have seriously injured an unknown person in the Netherlands in 2011, has attempted to murder a shopkeeper in [[Salzburg]] in 2012 after failing to shoplift, as well burgling a grocers store in [[Germany]] in January 2015.<ref name=opole/><ref name=pole/><ref name=through/> |
Prior to his murders, Kotwica is currently known to have seriously injured an unknown person in the Netherlands in 2011, has attempted to murder a shopkeeper in [[Salzburg]] in 2012 after failing to shoplift, as well burgling a grocers store in [[Germany]] in January 2015.<ref name=opole/><ref name=pole/><ref name=through/> |
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In April 2015, he mercilessly stabbed to death 79-year-old Swedish pensioner Bo Georg Ehrlander in the man's kitchen using a knife. Ehrlander was later found lying on the floor of his [[Älvsborg, Gothenburg#Neighbourhoods|Saltholmen]] home.<ref name=pole/><ref name=opole/><ref name=sent/> His car keys were also found to be missing.<ref name=euro>{{ |
In April 2015, he mercilessly stabbed to death 79-year-old Swedish pensioner Bo Georg Ehrlander in the man's kitchen using a knife. Ehrlander was later found lying on the floor of his [[Älvsborg, Gothenburg#Neighbourhoods|Saltholmen]] home.<ref name=pole/><ref name=opole/><ref name=sent/> His car keys were also found to be missing.<ref name=euro>{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/623011/Euro-Ripper-Dariusz-Pawel-Kotwica-Britain-UK-detectives-DNA-pensioner-rapes-deaths|title=Did Euro Ripper strike in Britain? UK detectives trawl DNA over pensioner rapes and deaths|author=Anil Dawar|newspaper=[[Daily Express]]|date=30 November 2015}}</ref> |
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Only a month later, on May 21, Kotwica broke into the home of 75-year-old local politician Gerhard Hintermeier and his 74-year-old, Erna.<ref name=sent/> Both were brutally battered and stabbed, with Kotwica raping Erna before killing her.<ref name=opole/><ref name=brit/> He then proceeded to write the phrase "[[Tantum ergo]]" on her body with brown paint.<ref name=pole/><ref name=through/><ref name=polak>{{Citeweb|url=https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/swiat/polak-seryjnym-morderca-dariusz-pawel-k-29-l-jezdzil-po-europie-i-zabijal-aa-NapE-aqWt-aXEN.html|title=POLAK a serial killer! Dariusz Paweł K. (29 years old) rode around Europe and killed|publisher=''[[Super Express (newspaper)|Super Express]]''|date=1 December 2015|language=Polish}}</ref> |
Only a month later, on May 21, Kotwica broke into the home of 75-year-old local politician Gerhard Hintermeier and his 74-year-old, Erna.<ref name=sent/> Both were brutally battered and stabbed, with Kotwica raping Erna before killing her.<ref name=opole/><ref name=brit/> He then proceeded to write the phrase "[[Tantum ergo]]" on her body with brown paint.<ref name=pole/><ref name=through/><ref name=polak>{{Citeweb|url=https://www.se.pl/wiadomosci/swiat/polak-seryjnym-morderca-dariusz-pawel-k-29-l-jezdzil-po-europie-i-zabijal-aa-NapE-aqWt-aXEN.html|title=POLAK a serial killer! Dariusz Paweł K. (29 years old) rode around Europe and killed|publisher=''[[Super Express (newspaper)|Super Express]]''|date=1 December 2015|language=Polish}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 20:58, 29 June 2019
Dariusz Kotwica | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dariusz Paweł Kotwica 1986 |
| Other names | "The Euro Ripper" "Europe's first serial killer" "The Travelling Serial Killer" "Vampire from Metalchemu" |
| Conviction(s) | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | Involuntary commitment |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3+ |
Span of crimes | April – May 2015 |
| Country | Sweden, Austria (convicted) Netherlands, Czech Republic, United Kingdom (suspected) |
| State(s) | Västra Götaland, Vienna |
Date apprehended | June 8, 2015 |
| Imprisoned at | Treatment center in Göllersdorf |
Dariusz Paweł Kotwica (born 1986 in Opole, Poland), known as the Euro Ripper,[1] is an itinerant Polish criminal and serial killer, responsible for at least three murders of pensioners in Austria and Sweden. Described as the "first European serial killer" who travelled using open borders,[2][3] he is thought to be responsible for additional murders in the Netherlands, Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.[4] The mentally-ill Kotwica is currently in a treatment center in Göllersdorf.[5][3]
Biography
Early life
Kotwica grew up in Metalchemie, a housing estate on the outskirts of Opole. Although described as an average, normal guy, he was known around the area for always wearing a tracksuit when walking around the blocks. Dariusz was raised solely by his mother, and never met his father. Despite his failing grades in school and truancy, Kotwica was considered very intelligent, and was notably interested in Greek mythology.[6] Sometime around 2005, he left his native Poland and began travelling around Europe,[5] first settling to live in England for several years.[4][2]
Crimes
Prior to his murders, Kotwica is currently known to have seriously injured an unknown person in the Netherlands in 2011, has attempted to murder a shopkeeper in Salzburg in 2012 after failing to shoplift, as well burgling a grocers store in Germany in January 2015.[5][4][3]
In April 2015, he mercilessly stabbed to death 79-year-old Swedish pensioner Bo Georg Ehrlander in the man's kitchen using a knife. Ehrlander was later found lying on the floor of his Saltholmen home.[4][5][6] His car keys were also found to be missing.[1]
Only a month later, on May 21, Kotwica broke into the home of 75-year-old local politician Gerhard Hintermeier and his 74-year-old, Erna.[6] Both were brutally battered and stabbed, with Kotwica raping Erna before killing her.[5][2] He then proceeded to write the phrase "Tantum ergo" on her body with brown paint.[4][3][7]
Capture, trial and sentence
The now-internationally wanted Pole was arrested on June 8 at a railway station in Düsseldorf, after he was recorded using the dead couple's ATM card on surveillance cameras.[6] He was quickly extradited back to Austria, he quickly confessed to committing the double murder, as well as the killing Ehrlander, whose car keys were found in Kotwica's possession.[1] When questioned on his motive, Kotwica confessed that he felt "joy" when torturing his entirely innocent and randomly-selected victims.[2][7]
Dariusz Kotwica was soon sent to court, where he claimed that his "inner voices" were telling him to kill.[6][7] Psychiatrists thoroughly examined him, concluding that he has been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia for at least 10 years.[5] Kotwica was found guilty and convicted of murdering the Hintermeiers and Ehrlander, but as a result of his mental illness, was transferred to a treatment center in Göllersdorf, where he is currently housed.[5]
References
- ^ a b c Anil Dawar (30 November 2015). "Did Euro Ripper strike in Britain? UK detectives trawl DNA over pensioner rapes and deaths". Daily Express.
- ^ a b c d Shehab Khan (29 November 2015). "Dariusz Pawel Kotwica: 'Europe's first serial killer' could have committed 'serious crimes' in Britain". The Independent.
- ^ a b c d jagor (17 August 2016). "A serial killer from Opole killed throughout Europe. Will not be behind bars? He testified that he heard voices" (in Polish). Gazeta Wiadomości.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c d e Łukasz Ł. (29 November 2015). "Dariusz Paweł Kotwica serial killer in England and Europe" (in Polish). Polskie Echo.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Vampire from Metalchemie directed for treatment. Will the Opole murderer avoid being behind bars?". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). 17 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Jonathan Berntsson (16 August 2016). "Dariusz Kotwica, 30, sentenced for murder". Expressen (in Swedish).
- ^ a b c "POLAK a serial killer! Dariusz Paweł K. (29 years old) rode around Europe and killed" (in Polish). Super Express. 1 December 2015.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)