Dariusz Kotwica
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"Europe's first serial killer"
"The Travelling Serial Killer"
"Vampire from Metalchem"
Dariusz Kotwica | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dariusz Paweł Kotwica 1986 (age 39–40) |
| Other names | "The Euro Ripper" "Europe's first serial killer" "The Travelling Serial Killer" "Vampire from Metalchem" |
| Conviction | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | Involuntary commitment |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3+ |
Span of crimes | April – May 2015 |
| Country | Sweden, Austria (convicted) Netherlands, Czech Republic, United Kingdom (suspected) |
| States | Västra Götaland, Vienna |
Date apprehended | 8 June 2015 |
| Imprisoned at | Treatment center in Göllersdorf, Austria |
Dariusz Paweł Kotwica (born 1986), 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, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.[4] The mentally ill Kotwica is currently in a treatment centre in Göllersdorf, Austria.[3][5]
Early life
Kotwica grew up in Metalchem, a housing estate on the outskirts of Opole, a city in southern Poland. Although described as an average, normal guy, he was known around the area for always wearing a tracksuit when walking around the estate.
Kotwica 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.[2][4]
Crimes
Kotwica seriously injured an unknown person in the Netherlands in 2011, attempted to murder a shopkeeper in Salzburg, Austria in 2012 after failing to shoplift, and robbed a grocery store in Germany in January 2015.[3][4][5]
In April 2015, he stabbed 79-year-old Swedish pensioner Bo Georg Ehrlander to death. Ehrlander was later found where he was murdered, lying on the kitchen floor of his Saltholmen home.[4][5][6] His car keys were also found to be missing.[1]
On 21 May, Kotwica broke into the home of 75-year-old local politician Gerhard Hintermeier and his 74-year-old wife, Erna.[6] Both were brutally battered and stabbed, with Kotwica raping Erna before killing her.[2][5] He then proceeded to write "Tantal" on her body with brown paint.[3][4][7]