Following the discovery of a 13-year-old boy in critical condition near Lake Arklickie on May 16, two men have been remanded in custody as authorities investigate his tragic death.
The Discovery and Arrests
The tragedy occurred on Saturday, May 16, near Lake Arklickie in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. 13-year-old Mikołaj was found in a marshy, difficult-to-access area in critical condition; despite resuscitation efforts, he could not be saved.
On Tuesday afternoon, a court ordered the temporary arrest of Krystian Sz., followed shortly by a similar order for Łukasz Sz. Hearings regarding two other suspects are currently underway.
Charges and Suspect Profiles
Four men, aged 30 to 43—reportedly three brothers and their brother-in-law—have been detained. The Kętrzyn District Prosecutor’s Office has requested three-month detentions for all four individuals.
One man faces charges of causing severe bodily harm resulting in death, while the others are accused of aiding the crime. All four are also charged with failing to provide assistance to a minor in mortal danger and attempting to assault a second boy present at the scene.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
Prosecutor Jolanta Rzepko stated that while the men have not offered a blanket admission of guilt, they have confirmed certain circumstances established during the proceedings. Reports indicate Krystian Sz. admitted to the charges following the court’s detention order.
Preliminary autopsy results revealed brain and lung edema in the victim, with final conclusions pending histopathological and toxicological tests. Media reports suggest a dispute preceded the incident, after which the men pursued the boy into the wetlands.
