Two Arrests After Discovery of Body in Vienna-Donaustadt

Following the discovery of a dead victim of violence in a burned-out car in Vienna-Donaustadt last Wednesday, two suspects were apprehended in Ukraine on Saturday. The 19-year-old and the 45-year-old were quickly identified. The killing of the 21-year-old Ukrainian is believed to have financial motives, reported Gerhard Winkler from the Vienna State Criminal Police Office on Tuesday. A substantial amount of money was withdrawn from the victim's crypto wallet.

Ukrainian Authorities Made Arrests

During the arrest of the two suspects by Ukrainian authorities on Saturday evening, "very substantial amounts of dollars" were also seized, explained Winkler at a press conference in Vienna. "So based on the current state of investigations, we can rule out a political motive," said the deputy head of the Vienna State Criminal Police Office. The 21-year-old was enrolled at the same university as the younger perpetrator. However, the Vienna police are not providing any details about the victim's exact identity, emphasized Winkler.

Meanwhile, it has been communicated that the two Ukrainian suspects will not be extradited, but instead, the Austrian judiciary will be requested to transfer the criminal proceedings to Ukraine. This will be carried out as currently planned, announced Winkler. This means "the proceedings against the suspects identified by us will be conducted in Ukraine."

"Approximately 80 Percent of the Body Was Affected by Burns"

The investigations began on November 26 shortly after midnight, when emergency services were called to a vehicle fire on Marlen-Haushofer-Weg and discovered the lifeless person on the back seat, described Winkler. The vehicle was a black Mercedes with Ukrainian license plates, belonging to the victim's family. The fire investigators were able to "very quickly rule out a technical defect and also an accident." As further evidence, according to Winkler, a melted canister was found on the back seat, which smelled of gasoline, even though it was a diesel vehicle.

This led to an investigation in the direction of a homicide. The autopsy of the victim on the day of the fire revealed, on one hand, massive burn injuries. "About 80 percent of the body was affected by burns," said Winkler. However, "there were also impacts of massive blunt force" noted. The head and especially the area of the mouth with some damaged teeth were affected, explained the criminalist. No soot inhalation into the deep airways was detected. Therefore, it is assumed that the victim had already died from the massive head injuries at the time of the fire or had only lived for a very short time and died from heat shock.

Altercation in Vienna-Leopoldstadt

The family of the 21-year-old had filed a missing person report with the police the day before, as he was uncharacteristically unreachable. Additionally, investigators found that there had been an altercation in a parking garage of a hotel in Vienna-Leopoldstadt on the evening before the fire. There was an earwitness and blood splatters in the stairwell of the underground garage.

Video evaluations showed the later victim with a quickly identified 19-year-old Ukrainian, who studies at the same university. Furthermore, police investigations were conducted at gas stations, and here too, the investigators quickly found evidence. Footage showed the suspect purchasing two canisters at a gas station on Wagramer Straße near the scene of the fire.

A warrant for the arrest of the 19-year-old was issued by the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office and also transmitted to the Ukrainian police authorities via Europol, reported Winkler. It was determined that the young man had entered Ukraine at 9:07 a.m. the day after the crime, accompanied by a 45-year-old. A "connection to the crime" was also established for the second man regarding the altercation in the parking garage and the purchase of gasoline on Wagramer Straße. An international search was also initiated against him.

"Both suspects were arrested by the Ukrainian police authorities on Saturday in the late evening hours," said Winkler. So far, there is no information on whether interrogations have been conducted and whether the two have confessed.

(APA/Red)

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