Serial killer terrorized region? Ties to other crimes explored after brutal murder of woman near Kumanovo

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After the brutal murder of a woman near Kumanovo in North Macedonia, the police are investigating a possible connection with other similar cases, the press in North Macedonia is reporting.

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The police in Kumanovo have submitted a criminal complaint to the prosecution against T.B. (25) from Kumanovo, who is suspected of commiting the murder.

At some point between January 27 and February 2, the suspect is believed to have killed the victim, a 78-year-old woman. The crime happened in the village of Celopek, and is described as "intentionally brutal."

The suspect took advantage of the fact that the victim lived alone, was old and infirm. When he entered her house, she was sleeping, and he physically assaulted her, inflicting several blows that caused her serious bodily injuries, from which she died, the criminal complaint states.

Intensive coordinated actions in the past few days carried out by the Kumanovo police, the Criminal Police Department, the Kumanovo Public Prosecutor's Office and the investigative center with that prosecutor's office, and the teams from the Institute of Forensic Medicine, resulted in evidence that indicates a connection between this event and several other similar cases in the Kumanovo area.

This includes similarities in the profile of the victims and the brutality of the crimes, so it is now being investigated whether these murders were committed by the same perpetrator.

Exhumation and autopsy was ordered yesterday for one of his potential previous victims, while DNA samples were collected from the body of the deceased woman, which are being analyzed.

Investigative authorities are working on complex expert reports and analyses, as well as taking other actions to secure evidence, which cannot currently be shared with the public in the interest of the proceedings.

The suspect has been placed under arrest and remains in custody, at the request of the prosecutor.

A psychiatric examination of the suspect has also been ordered by a team of experts - forensic psychiatrists from the Institute of Psychiatry in Skopje.

(Telegraf.rs)