Olga Hepnarová

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Olga Hepnarová
Olga Hepnarová

Olga Hepnarová (June 30, 1951 – March 12, 1975) was a Czech mass murderer. In 1973, she killed 8 people with a truck.

Born in Prague, Hepnarová had psychiatric problems starting at a young age; in 1964 she attempted suicide (by swallowing medication) and spent a year in a psychiatric ward. Later, she worked as a truck driver. On July 10, 1973 she drove a truck into group of about 25 people waiting for a tram in Prague 7, on a street today named after Milada Horáková. Three people died immediately, three more died later the same day and two in a few days (all aged between 60 to 79). Six were badly injured, six slightly.

Before the murder, she sent a letter to two newspapers (Svobodné slovo and Mladý svět) explaining her action as revenge for all the hatred against her by her family and the world. Due to slowness of the postal system the letter was received only two days after the murder.

During the investigation, Hepnarová confirmed her intention was to kill as many people as possible and she expressed no regret. Psychology experts found her fully aware of her actions. On April 6, 1974, she was sentenced to the death, the sentence was affirmed by higher instance courts and the president. She was hanged in Pankrác Prison in Prague, becoming the last woman executed in Czechoslovakia.

According to the executioner, as recorded by writer Bohumil Hrabal, just before the execution Hepnarová collapsed and needed to be dragged to the gallows.

[edit] Literature

  • Roman Cílek: Oprátka za osm mrtvých, 2001, ISBN 80-7179-285-3. A book about Hepnarová, contains a collection of contemporary documents.

[edit] External links