On the night of November 1‑2, 2015, 26‑year‑old Paulina L. and her two children were found dead in a Warsaw tenement, deaths attributed to a fire and carbon‑monoxide poisoning.
Background of the Apartment
The incident took place on a pre‑war tenement at Stalowa 38, a building with peeling paint and crumbling brick walls. The apartment, occupied by Paulina and her two children, had a damaged, cracked window that previously leaked paint. Nearby, a fire escape led to a collapsed wall, which had been standing alone for years until it fell, breaking the structure and allowing smoke to seep into the room.
The Fatal Night
On the night of November 1 – 2, 2015, Paulina was busy preparing wreaths made of pine cones and corn husks for a funeral. She had left the apartment with a friend, Jarek, passing through the courtyard to a cemetery. While outside, a fire erupted in her room, filling the space with smoke and a burst of carbon monoxide. Paulina’s son, Norbert (9 months old), and her older daughter, Oliva (8 years old), were inside when the fire started, and all three died. Jarek escaped the burning building but later returned to the site after its collapse.
Investigation Findings
Police investigations concluded that the deaths were caused by a fire combined with carbon‑monoxide poisoning, as indicated by soot on clothing and a toxic level of carbon monoxide in the bodies. The fire reportedly began near a discarded cigarette and quickly spread due to the apartment’s old wiring. No signs of foul play were found inside the apartment at the time of the investigation, though suspects were later identified.
Connection to the Neighborhood
Months after the tragedy, police identified a neighbor, Magdalena M., who had a history of violent conduct, including a earlier knife attack on a game‑salon employee later that night. During a search of Magdalena’s home, authorities recovered a knife, stolen phones, and fragile jewelry. While initial statements suggested the fire was accidental, evidence found at the scene led authorities to consider a potential homicide.
Trial and Sentencing of Magdalena M.
In June 2017, a court trial began to address allegations that Magdalena M. orchestrated the fire that killed Paulina and her children. The judge announced a potential sentence of 25 years for the murder of Mr. L. and life imprisonment for the murder of the children. After a series of testimonies and forensic examinations, the court ultimately convicted Magdalena M., sentencing her to life imprisonment for the killings. The verdict also included restitution for the stolen jewelry and communication devices recovered during the investigation.