Balkan True Crime

The notorious serial killer was arrested entirely by accident in 1979 when the police searched his house after he unsuccessfully tried to rob a German tourist who remembered the license plate number of his car.

In addition to the stolen items, they found a lot of women's belongings: lingerie, dresses, bags, shoes... and documents under the name Zorka Nikolic, who was listed as a missing person.

The results of the discovery were disturbing: in a rural house in Gorenji Vas in Slovenia, in the yard, near the garbage dump, and in the house itself, investigators found charred human remains, pieces of clothing, buttons... and in the ash of the brick oven, the remains of skulls "of at least five people," as medical experts determined.

He killed Vida, Marijana, Urska, Ana, Zorka... They were between 18 and 55 years old.

In the annals of Balkan criminal history, few names evoke as much dread and revulsion as name of Trobec.

Early Life

Metod Trobec was born in 1948 as an illegitimate twin, the product of his mother's third, unwanted pregnancy. Raised by a single, widowed mother, he showed signs of issues from a young age - first speaking at the age of four and walking at the age of five, and failing the seventh grade due to learning difficulties.

After completing his mandatory military service in the Yugoslav People's Army, Trobec moved to Germany, where he worked in the Porsche factory in Stuttgart, learning the trade of auto body repair.

However, his time in Germany was marred by criminal activities, including theft and attempts to sell stolen property.

Rise of a Serial Killer

Upon his return to Slovenia in 1974, Trobec's criminal activities escalated. He began stealing from warehouse and items at the train station, eventually leading to a prison sentence.

Despite his troubled past, Trobec managed to marry twice - both marriages were marked by abuse and violence towards his wives. When his second marriage, which lasted only nine months, ended in divorce, Trobec left increasingly isolated and consumed by his dark impulses.

Modus Operandi

Trobec's modus operandi was as chilling as it was methodical. He would lure unsuspecting women to his homestead, where he would rape and strangle them, often beating them severely.

After killing his victims, he would dispose of their bodies by burning them in a brick oven, a method that he used to destroy any evidence of his crimes.

Investigators later found charred human remains, pieces of clothing, and personal items belonging to his victims in and all around his property.

Despite his attempts to cover his tracks, Trobec's crimes were eventually uncovered, leading to his arrest in 1979.

While the motives behind his choices remained elusive, some theories are suggesting his preference for victims with health vulnerabilities.

The discovery was made that two of the women he targeted had epilepsy.

This speculation hinted at a disturbingly methodical nature to Trobec's killings, implying a calculated selection process that sought out those who may have been perceived as more vulnerable or easier targets.

Initially sentenced to death, Trobec's sentence was later commuted to 20 years in prison, with an additional 15 years added for attempting to murder another prisoner.

He ultimately took his own life in prison in 2006, after spending 27 years behind bars.

Metod Trobec's brutal legacy has left a haunting imprint on Balkan, exposing the profound depths of human malevolence.

His crimes serve as a grim testament to the hidden dangers that can lurk within individuals, forever altering the lives of those touched by his horrific acts.