Harok family murder

Harok Family Murder
Location Zatloukalova 404/49a, Brno-Ivanovice, Moravia, Czech Republic
Date 22 May 2013
~ 6:40 AM — ~ 1 PM
Attack type
 Mass murder
Weapons Multiple stabbing and slashing weapons
Deaths 4
Victims
  • Veronika Haroková
  • Martin Harok
  • Filip Harok
  • David Harok
Perpetrator
  • (Case pending)
Motive Unknown

The Harok family murder took place in the early morning of 22 May 2013 when four members of the Harok family, Veronika, her husband Martin, and her sons Filip and David were murdered in their home in Brno, Czech Republic′s second largest city.[1]

On 23 May 2013, the Czech Police charged in absentia 20-year-old US national Kevin Dahlgren, Veronika Harok's cousin, with committing the quadruple murder.[2] At the time he was charged, Dahlgren was on board a flight bound for Washington, D.C. Dahlgren spent two years and three months in custody in the US, fighting extradition.[3] He was extradited on 31 August 2015, becoming the first United States citizen that has ever been extradited to the Czech Republic.[3] If convicted, Dahlgren, who denies responsibility for the murders,[4] could be sentenced up to life imprisonment in the Czech Republic.[2]

In March 2016, the police had closed their investigation and, month later, State Attorney indicted Dahlgren of committing the four murders.[5][6]

Victims

In the Czech Republic, female surnames traditionally take suffix -ová (see Czech female surnames).

The Haroks moved to the Brno-Ivanovice district in about 2005 and were described as quiet and polite by neighbors.[7]

Veronika Haroková (aged 46) worked as a teacher of history and Czech language at a Brno grammar school where she also worked as a pupil counselor. She was described as being well liked by the students. Her husband Martin Harok (aged 55), an entrepreneur, and their son Filip (aged 25), a Masaryk University student, were both members of the Ukulele Orchestra jako Brno band. The youngest of the victims, David (aged 16), was a student, described as a promising soccer player in the Czech media.[8]

Investigation

Reconstruction of the murders

“

From the absence of defensive marks on their bodies, it is clear that the victims were attacked in succession, not expecting the assault.

 ”
— Assertion of the Czech police in the extradition request (see below)[9]

According to Czech media reports, the authorities reconstructed the case as follows:

In the early morning of 22 May 2013, a girlfriend of one of the sons left the house.[10] At 6:40 AM, Mrs. Haroková called the grammar school where she worked, saying that she had a bad headache and would take the day off. The police believe that she and two other victims were killed between this time and 8:00 AM, which was the moment at which Mrs Haroková's wristwatch stopped. A post woman arrived at the door shortly before nine. The doorbell was answered by Dahlgren, who accepted the mail. Two hours later, a cleaner came to the house, but was sent away by Dahlgren immediately after entering the hallway.[11] Meanwhile, the fourth victim, David, who was at school, received text messages from Dahlgren's phone that they would go running after his return.[11] David was probably murdered immediately after returning to the house around 12:30 PM.[11]

Security cameras recorded Dahlgren leaving the house later in the afternoon. He took a taxi to Vienna International Airport, the 140 km (87 miles) away, reaching the airport at about 5 PM.[12]

Discovery of victims

Brno
Vienna Airport

Neighbors first noticed a faint smoke in the afternoon of 22 May 2013, however it wasn't until shortly before 10:00 PM that day that they registered that the smoke was actually coming from the Harok family's house garage. The neighbors entered the garage intending to extinguish what seemed to be a small scale smolder only to find three charred bodies inside, whereupon they immediately alerted the authorities.[12]

The victims were stabbed and slashed to death, each of them having dozens of stab- and slash-wounds in the head and face.[13] The bodies of three of them were wrapped in cloth and set on fire.[14] Due to the state of the bodies the police were not immediately able to identify the victims.[15]

Arrest

The next day the Czech authorities issued an international arrest warrant for Dahlgren, who, as was later revealed, had already passed through the passport control at Vienna International Airport before his name appeared in the international database. Subsequently, at around 1 PM the Austrian authorities alerted the crew of Austrian Airlines flight OS93 of the arrest warrant. The flight, carrying Dahlgren, had left Vienna at 10:46 AM[16] and was at time flying over the United Kingdom. After contemplating an emergency landing or a return to Vienna, the pilots decided it would be safer to continue the flight. The cabin crew were instructed to pretend not to know anything about the suspect on the flight. Immediately after landing at Washington Dulles International Airport, the plane was stormed by U.S Customs and Border Protection Officers, who arrested Dahlgren and turned him over to the FBI.[17]

The Czech police made it public that they consider Kevin Dahlgren to be the prime suspect only after he had been arrested in the USA, citing fears that he might have learned about his "wanted" status while on board of the airplane, and react by endangering other passengers.[2][18]

Kevin Dahlgren

Kevin Dahlgren's relation to the victims, according to Česká televize

Kevin Dahlgren, a 20 year-old native of Sacramento, California, where he graduated from Granite Bay High School, and Veronika Haroková's cousin,[19] came to the Czech Republic three weeks prior to the killings in order to live with the Harok family.[20] Dahlgren's acquaintance, identified only as Kyle K. by the Czech press reports, was cited saying that Dahlgren is trained in martial arts and had been expelled from a military school.[13] Newspapers further alleged that Dahlgren was suffering with "psychological issues" and had been sent to the Czech Republic by his parents.[8]

Kevin Dahlgren and Veronika Haroková had the same grandparents, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia following the 1948 communist coup d'état.[4] During their flight, they left their 6-year-old daughter Ivana, Veronika's mother, behind. The initial plan to get her out of the country following their escape failed and it wasn't until 20 years later that they could meet again, when Ivana also first met her sister Sandy, Kevin Dahlgren's mother, who had been born in the USA. Veronika's and Sandy's families were in contact and started visiting each other after the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989.[21]

Haroks learned about Dahlgren's plan to come to the Czech Republic only a couple of days in advance, when he contacted them, saying that he had already bought an airplane ticket and that he expected them to pick him up at the airport. Indeed, they picked him up in Vienna, accommodated him in their home and were generally taking care of Dahlgren, who doesn't speak any Czech.[13]

According to the authorities, Dahlgren sent messages to other people on the day of the killing. At 8:33, he supposedly sent an SMS (text message) to a Harok family friend that he planned to return to the US. He canceled a class with a student whom he was tutoring in English two hours later, and at 15:14, he sent an SMS to another Harok family friend saying he had left for Vienna.[11]

The authorities further claim that Dahlgren had been boasting about having managed to get a knife on board the airplane which brought him to Europe, and that he was seen walking in vicinity of the victims' house with a knife in his hand two days before the killings.[22]

Dahlgren's former babysitter, Shauna Seymour, described him as a trouble-free person.[4] According to Garry O'Dell, Dahlgrens' family friend, Kevin denied responsibility for the murders.[4] Dahlgren claims that he went jogging and found the bodies after returning to the house. Scared for his own life, he wanted to get away as fast as possible.[4]

Extradition proceedings in Virginia

“

Five people are in the home. Four get killed. One flees. That alone, we submit, is probable cause.

 ”
— Assistant United States Attorney Patricia Haynes during extradition hearing, 12 September 2013[23]

The Czech Ministry of Justice issued a request for preliminary custody of Kevin Dahlgren during the afternoon of 23 May 2013 on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by a judge in the Municipal Court in Brno.[2]

Dahlgren was arrested on the basis of the international arrest warrant immediately after landing in the USA on 23 May 2013.[24] An application for Dahlgren to be placed in custody was brought by Assistant United States Attorney Patricia Haynes and approved by Magistrate Judge Theresa Carroll Buchanan the next day.[24] The Czech authorities have announced that they will seek Dahlgren's extradition. Under the Czech-US extradition treaty, they have 60 days to file a formal request[24] (until 23 July 2013).[25] Dahlgren was represented by Theodore Simon, formerly Amanda Knox′s attorney, in extradition proceedings taking place in Alexandria, Virginia.[26]

While there have been numerous cases of extradition of third country nationals from either country to the other, there had never been a US citizen extradited by the USA to the Czech Republic. According to the Czech Ministry of Justice, Dahlgren may not be prosecuted in the USA for crimes committed abroad, and if not extradited, he would walk free in the USA.[23]

Dahlgren's legal representation had filed complaints against the initial arrest, body search and against the handing over of Dahlgren's belongings to the Czech authorities. These complaints were all rejected.[25]

The Czech Ministry of Justice filed the formal request for Dahlgren's extradition on 12 July 2013.[27] Czech public television, which has obtained the 300 page long extradition request from the US authorities, claimed that the evidence presented by the Czech police included the victims' DNA samples found on Dahlgren's clothing. The US authorities had already handed Dahlgren's belongings over to the Czech authorities, following his arrest in Washington. The Czech police concluded that short trousers found in Dahlgren's suitcase had blood stains on them: the police alleged that "beyond any doubt, the blood was that of David Harok, and further with a very strong probability, also the blood of Martin Harok and Veronika Haroková. In the case of 25 stains examined, the blood could not have stained the short trousers merely from abrasion."[9] The police have further secured a bloodied knife and a bar stool from the crime scene. However, according to the authorities, even more weapons were used in the killings.[9]

The extradition hearing took place on 12 September 2013 at United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia with Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis presiding.[28] Concluding that the state needed to prove only probable cause, Davis ruled that Dahlgren can be extradited to the Czech Republic. The ruling, if upheld, only allows the US Department of State to extradite him, while the Department of State would then make its own decision whether to do so. Dahlgren's attorney, Theodore Simon announced that he would appeal the verdict.[29] A court hearing in the matter that was supposed to take place on 8 May 2015 was adjourned.[30] Another court hearing scheduled on 22 May 2015 - two years after the murders - was adjourned until 12 June 2015.[31] On 1 July 2015, the court in Virginia heard Dahlgren's complaint against being held in custody and decided that the detention is lawful.[32] Dahlgren appealed the verdict. In August 2015, the court dealing with the extradition ruled that Dahlgren can be extradited without waiting for the verdict about his custody,[33] and on 31 August 2015, Dahlgren was transported to Prague, the first U.S. citizen ever extradited to the Czech Republic.[34]

Palace of Justice in Brno which houses the regional court appropriate to hear the Harok family murder case.

Criminal proceedings in the Czech Republic

After learning that their prime suspect has left the country, on 23 May 2013 the Czech authorities charged Kevin Dahlgren "in absentia" with committing the quadruple murder. If convicted, he may be sentenced up to life imprisonment.[2] Court appointed attorney Richard Špíšek to represent Dahlgren in the Czech murder proceedings.[35]

Dahlgren was extradited to the Czech Republic on 31 August 2015.[3] On the same day, District Court in Brno held a hearing concerning Dahlgren's custody.[3] The court refused Dahlgren's plea to be released on bail and ordered his remand.[3] Dahlgren appealed the decision[3] but the original ruling was upheld.[36]

After lengthy psychiatric and psychological assessments of Dahlgren's mental state, which concluded that he was sane, the police officially closed the investigation on 21 March 2016 and recommended the State Attorney to indict Dahlgren. The investigators claimed that there was no doubt about Dahlgren committing the murders, however, they failed to establish a motive.[37] State Attorney Ludmila Doležalová subsequently indicted Dahlgren in April 2016.[38][6] The case fell into the hands of judge Michal Zámečník, who will be presiding a panel consisting of himself and two lay judges.[39]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Dahlgren pobíhal noc před vraždami s nožem v ruce" (in Czech). ČT 24. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mlčeli jsme, aby Dahlgren na palubě neohrozil pasažéry, říká policie" (in Czech). lidovky.cz. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Soud poslal Američana Dahlgrena do vazby. Vydání se bránil přes dva roky [Court decided to hold the US national Dahlgren on remand. He was fighting extradition for over two years]" (in Czech). idnes. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Přítel Dahlgrenových: Kevin rodinu našel už zavražděnou" (in Czech). ČT 24. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  5. ↑ http://brno.idnes.cz/vysetrovatel-ukoncil-pripad-dahlgren-dxg-/brno-zpravy.aspx?c=A160321_103324_brno-zpravy_tr
  6. 1 2 http://www.novinky.cz/krimi/399854-statni-zastupkyne-podala-obzalobu-na-dahlgrena.html
  7. ↑ "Nebezpečný Američan na útěku: V Brně údajně vyvraždil čtyřčlennou rodinu" (in Czech). denik.cz. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  8. 1 2 "PROFILY OBĚTÍ: Tito tři muži a učitelka byli zavražděni v Brně! Hráli spolu v ukulele bandu" (in Czech). nova.cz. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 "Na Dahlgrenových kraťasech našli kriminalisté krev obětí" (in Czech). ČT 24. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Proofs point at Dahlgren as killer, motive unclear - Czech police". České noviny. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "ČT: Dahlgren v den vraždy převzal poštu a vyhnal paní na úklid z domu" (in Czech). ČT 24. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Dahlgren odjel do Vídně taxíkem už ve středu odpoledne" (in Czech). nova.cz. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 "Proti Dahlgrenovi svědčí důkazy i svědci. Motiv vraždy stále nejasný" (in Czech). ČT 24. 30 Jul 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Fakta a mýty o Kevinu Dahlgrenovi" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Hledá se Američan podezřelý z vraždy rodiny v Brně. Těla zkusil spálit" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "Live Flight Tracker ✈ Austrian Airlines (OS) #93 ✈ 23-May-2013 ✈ LOWW / VIE - KIAD". Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "So flüchtete der Psycho-Killer" (in German). indes.cz. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "Dojel vrah do Vídně na motorce? Česká policie to popírá" (in Czech). indes.cz. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Američan obviněný ze čtyřnásobné vraždy zůstává ve vazbě" (in Czech). ČT 24. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "Američana podezřelého z vraždy čtyř lidí v Brně chytili ve Washingtonu" (in Czech). novinky.cz. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "Dahlgren v obklíčení důkazů, tajemstvím zůstává proč" (in Czech). ČT 24. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "FBI: Dahlgren se chlubil nožem" (in Czech). denik.cz. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  23. 1 2 "Česko se pokouší o průlom. Věří, že Spojené státy vraha čtyř lidí vydají" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  24. 1 2 3 "Američana podezřelého z vraždy čtyř lidí v Brně zatkli ve Washingtonu" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  25. 1 2 "Soud v USA rozhodl, že Kevin Dahlgren zatím zůstane ve vazbě" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  26. ↑ "Dahlgrena hájí právnické eso. Zřejmě požádá o propuštění na kauci" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  27. ↑ "Vydání Dahlgrena už je pouze v rukách americké justice" (in Czech). ČT 24. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  28. ↑ "Soudní jednání o vydání Kevina Dahlgrena začne 12. září" (in Czech). Týden. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  29. ↑ http://www.praguepost.com/czech-news/25082-u-s-court-rules-dahlgren-may-be-extradited
  30. ↑ "Čtyřnásobný mord v Brně: soud v USA jednání o Dahlgrenovi odložil" (in Czech). Týden. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  31. ↑ "Dva roky od vražd v Brně. Soud opět odložil jednání o vydání Dahlgrena" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  32. ↑ "Dahlgren je ve vazbě oprávněně, zamítl americký soud jeho stížnost" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  33. ↑ http://www.praguemonitor.com/2015/08/26/us-court-rejects-dahlgrens-appeal-against-czech-extradition
  34. ↑ http://www.novinky.cz/krimi/379178-dahlgren-obvineny-z-ctyrnasobne-vrazdy-je-v-cesku.html
  35. ↑ "Dahlgrenovi byl přidělen český obhájce. Ten čeká, zda ho USA vydají" (in Czech). lidovky.cz. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  36. ↑ http://brno.idnes.cz/soud-zamitl-americanovu-stiznost-proti-uvaleni-vazby-p12-/brno-zpravy.aspx?c=A151005_121139_brno-zpravy_tr
  37. ↑ http://www.lidovky.cz/policie-ukoncila-vysetrovani-dahlgrena-za-ctyrnasobnou-vrazdu-mu-hrozi-dozivoti-gjo-/zpravy-domov.aspx?c=A160321_104911_ln_domov_ELE
  38. ↑ http://zpravy.aktualne.cz/regiony/jihomoravsky/statni-zastupitelstvi-podalo-obzalobu-na-kevina-dahlgrena-ob/r~25507cd6fccb11e5b5c3002590604f2e/
  39. ↑ http://www.novinky.cz/krimi/399952-dahlgren-uz-zna-sveho-soudce-dukazy-jsou-pry-neprustrelne.html

Coordinates: 49°12′00″N 16°37′00″E / 49.2000°N 16.6167°E / 49.2000; 16.6167

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, April 09, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.