The Croatian Institute for Social Work has confirmed the initiation of mandatory pre-divorce counseling. Police are investigating allegations of threats and surveillance, and the Ombudsperson for Children has also spoken out.
According to unofficial information, on Saturday morning, a 46-year-old man took the lives of his children and himself in the family home in Sveti Križ Začretje, and his wife had intended to initiate divorce proceedings. Jutarnji list has learned that the start of mandatory pre-divorce counseling was recently recorded, which the HZSR reported to the ministry on Monday.
According to the same information, the wife had left the family home and moved in with her mother because she allegedly could no longer endure her husband's reproaches. To monitor his wife, he installed two cameras at the entrance door and on the stairs leading to the upper floor. Police are also investigating claims that he threatened her with death before the tragedy if she left him.
The tragedy occurred on Saturday morning when, after a report of a fire in the house, the bodies of the 46-year-old man, his 17-year-old son, and 15-year-old daughter were found. All three victims were found on the marital bed in the upstairs room. Although the police have not officially confirmed the cause of death, murder and suicide are suspected. According to the police statement, the fire was deliberately set, ruling out the possibility of an accident.
Interestingly, neighbors reported hearing gunshots followed by an explosion on Saturday morning, but according to information from Jutarnji list, the means of execution was not a firearm but a cold weapon. It has not yet been determined how the man took his own life after killing his children and setting the fire, which will be the subject of further criminal investigation.
Just two hours before the murder, the 46-year-old posted a message on his social media profile that hinted at the crime. In it, he suggested his distrust of his wife and what he might do to get revenge. The message has since been deleted. The man usually worked in Germany and had come to Croatia for vacation, which he spent with his children at the seaside. Police will attempt to reconstruct the events leading up to the tragedy through interviews and determine whether everything was premeditated.
The mother, "who tragically lost two children and her husband, was visited on Monday by professional staff from the Croatian Institute for Social Work (HZSR) to provide necessary assistance and support, psychosocial counseling and psychosocial support, and to secure a one-time financial allowance," the HZSR stated for Jutarnji list. The Institute emphasized that the family had not previously been in their care, nor had any family law protection measures been taken due to violence.
The Office of the Ombudsperson for Children expressed deep regret and sorrow on Monday over the deaths of the two children. "The death of a child is the greatest loss for a community, and its greatest responsibility is not only to answer the question of what happened, but also to ensure that such tragedies never happen again," the Office stated, highlighting the need to strengthen inter-sectoral cooperation and trust in institutions involved in child protection. They also announced the possibility of introducing a new system of institutional oversight for such cases to detect dangers early.
The Office also asked the public not to publish private information about the victims and to avoid inappropriate comments. They also called on competent institutions to provide the mother, family, and local community, especially schools, with all possible support and assistance during the recovery process.
The County State Attorney's Office in Zagreb has ordered an autopsy and, in cooperation with the Krapina-Zagorje Police Department, is conducting further measures and actions within its jurisdiction to establish all relevant facts and circumstances of this event. The Attorney's Office stated that they cannot provide further information at this time. Police added that there had been no prior police intervention that would have required filing a misdemeanor or criminal report.
