Miljenko Hrkać

Miljenko Hrkać (1947 – January 10, 1978) was a Yugoslav serial rapist and murderer of Croatian ethnicity, responsible for a series of heinous crimes that shocked Yugoslavia in the mid-1970s. He was convicted of multiple rapes, murders, and a bombing, and subsequently executed, becoming one of the last individuals to be judicially executed for non-political crimes in Serbia (then part of Yugoslavia).

Early Life

Miljenko Hrkać was born in 1947 in Mokro, near Široki Brijeg, in what was then the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, part of Yugoslavia. Little is publicly known about his early life or upbringing prior to his criminal activities.

Crimes

Hrkać's crime spree began in the mid-1970s and quickly escalated in brutality and public notoriety. His known crimes include:

• October 1974, Belgrade: He planted a bomb in a cinema in Belgrade, which resulted in the death of one woman and injured several others. The motive appeared to be robbery and causing panic.
• March 1975, Zagreb: He committed a brutal rape and murder of a woman in Zagreb.
• Multiple Rapes and Attempted Murders: In addition to these primary charges, Hrkać was linked to several other rapes and attempted murders across Yugoslavia, demonstrating a pattern of sexual violence and extreme brutality.

His crimes were characterized by their cold-blooded nature and the lack of a clear, singular motive beyond personal gain and sexual gratification. The investigations into his activities generated widespread fear and media attention throughout the country.

Arrest and Trial

Hrkać was apprehended in mid-1975 after an extensive police investigation. His arrest and subsequent trials became a national sensation. The legal proceedings were complex and highly publicized, with Hrkać initially denying many of the charges. However, compelling evidence, including forensic findings and witness testimonies, eventually led to his conviction.

He was tried in Belgrade and found guilty on multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, rape, and terrorism (for the bombing). The courts handed down four death sentences for his various crimes, reflecting the severity and multiple nature of his offenses.

Execution

Despite appeals and efforts by his legal team to commute his sentences, Miljenko Hrkać's appeals were ultimately rejected. He was executed by firing squad on January 10, 1978, in Belgrade. His execution marked a significant moment in Yugoslav legal history, as he was reportedly the last person executed in Serbia for a non-political crime before the country's penal code was reformed and the death penalty was eventually abolished.

Legacy

Miljenko Hrkać's case remains one of the most infamous and disturbing criminal cases in the history of the former Yugoslavia. It highlighted issues of public safety, police investigation methods, and the application of capital punishment during that era. His crimes are often referenced in discussions about high-profile criminal psychology and the history of capital punishment in the region.