Vlado Taneski
Encyclopedia
Vlado Taneski was a Macedonian
crime reporter and serial killer
. A career journalist for over 20 years, Taneski was arrested in June 2008 for the murder
of two women on whose death he had also written articles. These articles on the murders had aroused the suspicion of the police, since they contained information which was not released to the public. After DNA tests
connected Taneski to the murders, he was imprisoned on June 22, 2008 and was found dead in his cell the next day after an apparent suicide
.
after having written articles about the murders of three women in Kičevo
, Republic of Macedonia
. The victims were Mitra Simjanoska, 64, found dead in 2005; Ljubica Licoska, 56, murdered in February 2007; and Zivana Temelkoska, 65, murdered in May 2008. Police were also planning to question Taneski on the 2003 disappearance of the 78-year-old Gorica Pavleska. All these women were poor, uneducated cleaners, which was, incidentally, also how Taneski's mother earned a living. The victims had known Taneski's mother personally.
According to police, the articles contained information which was not released to the public. Differing from all other reports published in the Macedonian press on the murders, Taneski knew, for example, what type of cord the killer used (phone cord). He was arrested on June 22, 2008 after his DNA
was matched to the semen
found on the victims. He was charged with the murder of two of the women and the police were preparing to charge him with the murder of the third. The next day, Taneski was found dead from an apparent suicide in his cell at a prison in Tetovo
. He was found with his head in a bucket of water.
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
crime reporter and serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
. A career journalist for over 20 years, Taneski was arrested in June 2008 for the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of two women on whose death he had also written articles. These articles on the murders had aroused the suspicion of the police, since they contained information which was not released to the public. After DNA tests
Genetic fingerprinting
DNA profiling is a technique employed by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals by their respective DNA profiles. DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a person's DNA makeup, which can also be used as the person's identifier...
connected Taneski to the murders, he was imprisoned on June 22, 2008 and was found dead in his cell the next day after an apparent suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
Personal life
Vlado Taneski's journalistic career spanned over twenty years. Taneski was separated from his wife with whom he had two children, and had had a tense relationship with his late mother. His father had committed suicide in 1990.Murders and suicide
Taneski came under suspicion for murderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
after having written articles about the murders of three women in Kičevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
, Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. The victims were Mitra Simjanoska, 64, found dead in 2005; Ljubica Licoska, 56, murdered in February 2007; and Zivana Temelkoska, 65, murdered in May 2008. Police were also planning to question Taneski on the 2003 disappearance of the 78-year-old Gorica Pavleska. All these women were poor, uneducated cleaners, which was, incidentally, also how Taneski's mother earned a living. The victims had known Taneski's mother personally.
According to police, the articles contained information which was not released to the public. Differing from all other reports published in the Macedonian press on the murders, Taneski knew, for example, what type of cord the killer used (phone cord). He was arrested on June 22, 2008 after his DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
was matched to the semen
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
found on the victims. He was charged with the murder of two of the women and the police were preparing to charge him with the murder of the third. The next day, Taneski was found dead from an apparent suicide in his cell at a prison in Tetovo
Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
. He was found with his head in a bucket of water.