Adrian W., a convicted rapist, is set to appear in Bydgoszcz court this year over the 2001 murder of 19‑year‑old Karolina K., who was found dead in the Vistula.
Discovery of the Body
On 18 September 2001, a local fisherman found a naked, heavily decomposed body on the bank of the Vistula at Grabówko. The corpse showed painted nails silver with black spots. Autopsy suggested death 2–3 weeks earlier, pointing to foul play.
Initial Investigation
The victim was identified as 19‑year‑old Karolina K. of Trzebień village, reported missing by her mother on 4 September. Examination revealed no external injuries, but lung tissue showed asphyxiation, suggesting strangulation; drowning could not be ruled out. Alcohol was present at 0.4 ‰, likely post‑mortem.
She was last seen the night of 2–3 September 2001 at a harvest festival in Pruszcz, where she danced and drank beer, then chose to stay rather than return home with her brother.
Suspect Background
The same festival hosted 25‑year‑old Adrian W., a mechanic who had recently completed a rape sentence. He was accused of escorting Karolina home and was seen near the car he drove at 23–24 hours. Adrian denied knowing her; no hard evidence linked him, and the case was dropped in March 2002.
In 2002 Adrian was sentenced to life for the August murder of an 18‑year‑old, which had already led to his incarceration. His 2024 arrest was formal, as he was already in custody.
New DNA Evidence
Police’s X Archive reopened the case in 2023. New tests on cream‑colored material recovered from Adrian’s home in 2001 showed peroxidase but no human hemoglobin, and DNA matching Karolina’s profile. The same material also contained DNA from a man identified as Adrian.
Additional samples from a towel and a quilt cover yielded Adrian’s DNA, confirming his presence at the scene.
Alleged Motive and Witness Accounts
Witnesses claim Adrian sought a woman with pale long hair, appeared intoxicated, and attempted to bring her into his house. A former cellmate later recorded conversations where Adrian admitted to the killing, describing it as “disgusting” and stating “no one was with me,” implying misogyny.
Police officer‑archivist Marcin relayed that Adrian expressed contempt, treated partners as objects, and displayed controlling behavior, labeling him as a “person full of contempt for women.”
Court Proceedings
On 14 October 2025 the indictment was filed, charging Adrian with direct‑intent murder by strangulation and throwing the body into the Vistula. A trial was planned for November, postponed to December, then cancelled due to judge‑exclusion requests and returns to prosecution. The first court appearance will be early next year.
