Zdzislaw MARCHWICKI
AKA "The Silesian Vampire" - "The Zaglebie Vampire"
Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Rape - Robberies
Number of victims: 14
Date of murders: 1964 - 1970
Date of arrest: 1972
Date of birth: October 18, 1927
Victims profile: Women
Method of murder: ???
Location: Poland
Status: Executed on April 29, 1977
Zdzislaw Marchwicki, called the "Zagłębie vampire", was a very media discussed Polish serial killer.
He was born in 1927 to a low-class family. His father went through five marriages in which four children were born - these were three brothers and a sister, all of whom were involved with and later were charged along with Zdzislaw for criminal conspiracy, robbing and obstructing justice.
Marchwicki did all the killings in the following areas: in the neighbourhoods of Czeladź, Będzin, and adjoining towns in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie and Upper Silesia. He started his murders during the period in 1964 and continued it, with occasional breaks, till late 1970. Having been arrested in early 1972, he was tried in a highly publicized show trial which lasted for 10 months, and received the death sentence in July 1975. His execution took place in late 1976.
Marchwicki was charged with murdering fourteen women and attempting to kill another six, but one attempted murder charge was not proven.
Zdzisław's brother Jan Marchwicki also received the death penalty, while his third brother Henryk got a 25 years sentence for taking part in a conspiracy to commit murder. The half-sister, Helena, got a three year prison sentence for storing small stolen things such as watches and pens that she knew came from Zdzisław's victims. Similar criminal penalties was given out to her son, also called Zdzisław, for failing to inform the police about the murder conspiracies.
In the course of and after the trial there was much dispute whether Marchwicki was the real vampire. He did not show typical serial killer behaviour, remaining rather passive and demure during the criminal trials. While in prison waiting for the results of the appeal, he reputedly wrote a diary in which he described his killings in minute details, along with all the associated emotional ups and downs. It is decidedly firmly established today that the diary was dictated to him by police officers through a fellow prisoner. It seems barely possible that Marchwicki, who dropped out of school at an early age and had a low IQ, would write using a style that used complex sentences and included police slang terms.
One of Marchwicki's murder victims was the niece of Edward Gierek, who was then the Upper Silesian communist party leader. However, the prosecution and the police investigators denied being pressured by political forces in the criminal prosecution of Zdzislaw Marchwicki.
Zdzisław Marchwicki (b. October 18, 1927 in Dąbrowa Górnicza - April 29, 1977 in Katowice, Poland) called the "Zagłębie vampire", was a Polish serial killer.
Born 1927 in a low-class family, he saw his father go through five marriages that eventually produced four children - three brothers and a sister, all of whom later stood trial with Zdzislaw for conspiring, possessing stolen goods and obstructing justice.
Marchwicki committed all the killings in a relatively small area in the neighbourhoods of Czeladz, Bedzin, and adjoining towns in Upper Silesia. He started his killing spree in 1964 and continued it, with occasional breaks, till late 1970. Having been apprehended in early 1972, he was tried in a show trial which lasted 10 months, and was sentenced to death in July 1975. The appeal upheld the verdict, with the execution taking place in late 1976.
Marchwicki was charged with killing 14 women and attempting to kill another six, but one case of attempted murder was not proven.
Also sentenced to death was Zdzislaw's brother Jan, with the third brother Henryk receiving a 25-year prison sentence for murder conspiracy. The half-sister, Helena, received a three year sentence for storing small items such as watches and pens that she knew came from Zdzislaw's victims. Similar punishment was meted out to her son, also called Zdzislaw, for failing to inform the police about the conspiracy.
During and after the trial speculations abounded whether Marchwicki was the real vampire. He did not display typical serial killer behaviour, remaining rather passive and demure throughout the proceedings. While in prison awaiting the appeal, he reputedly wrote a diary in which he minutely described his killings and the associated emotional ups and downs. It is, however, firmly established today that the diary was dictated to him by police officers through a fellow prisoner. It seems barely possible that Marchwicki, who dropped out of school at an early age and was rather low on IQ, would write in a style that used complex sentences and included police jargon terms.
Incidentally, one of Marchwicki's fatal victims was the niece of Edward Gierek, then the Upper Silesian communist party leader, although both the prosecution and the police investigators denied being pressured by political forces.
Victims:
1. MYCEK Anna; Dąbrówka Mała - 7.XI.64
2. PAKUŁA Ewa; Czeladź-Piaski - 20.I.65
3. NOWACKA Lidia; Będzin - 17.III.65
4. SZYMAŃSKA; Irena Grodziec - 14.V.65
5. ZYGMUNT Jadwiga; Sosnowiec - 22.VII.65
6. GĄSIOROWSKA Eleonora; Łagisza - 26.VII.65
7. WIŚNIEWSKA Zofia; Łagisza - 4.VIII.65
8. BŁASZCZYK Maria; Czeladź - 15.VIII.65
9. ŁEBEK Genowefa; Będzin - 25.VIII.65
10. TOSZA Teresa; Będzin - 25.X.65
11. DUBIEL Alicja; Garbierze - 28.X.65
12. SZREK Irena; Czeladź - 12.XII.65
13. SAMUL Stanisława; Gródków - 19.II.66
14. BIJAK Genowefa; Niepiekło - 11.V.66
15. GOMÓŁKA Maria; Zagórze - 15.VI.66
16. KOZIERSKA Julianna; Będzin - 15.VI.66
17. GIEREK Jolanta; Będzin - 11.X.66
18. KAWKA Zofia; Grodziec - 15.VI.67
19. GARBACZ Zofia; Wojkowice - 3.X.67
20. SĄSIEK Jadwiga; Cieśle - 3.X.68
21. KUCIA Jadwiga; Siemianowice-Bytków - 4.III.70
