Case 108
The Kicevo Monster
Case 108
The Kicevo Monster
The Macedonian city of Kicevo is situated within the slopes of Bistra Mountain. It offers little appeal for visitors, with its post-Yugoslavian buildings, crumbled sidewalks, and bleak houses in desperate need of renovation. Most tourists don’t bother stopping through, only glimpsing its sign on the journey south from Macedonia’s capital of Skopje to Lake Ohrid on the Albanian border.
As was the case with most post-Yugoslavian states, the Macedonian government invested its money into more prominent and popular locales. This meant smaller towns and villages like Kicevo were often overlooked and forgotten, deteriorating quickly as they fell behind the fast-paced advances of modern life. Life was slow in Kicevo, where its 20,000 residents enjoyed a quiet and relatively peaceful existence, harboured by a close-knit community with strong traditional values. As such, Kicevo was rarely mentioned on national Macedonian news. That is, until a chilling discovery on January 12, 2005, sent shockwaves around the nation.
________
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
MTC program: maketheconnection.net/resources/spread-the-word
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call/
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode researched by Mike Migas and Paulina Szymanska
Episode written by Elsha McGill
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
VIDEO:
Murder He Wrote: Vlado Taneski – Evil Up Close, 2012
ARTICLES:
The Mask of Sanity: On the Trail of a Serial Killer in Macedonia – VQR
Murder, He Wrote – Philip Watson
‘Serial murder’ journalist commits suicide – Independent
Macedonian Murder Suspect Dead in Cell – The New York Times
The shocking story of the newspaper crime reporter who knew too much – The Guardian
The strange case of a journalist with a killer deadline – The Irish Times
Murder He Wrote: Chilling Death Details – ABC News
He Had a Double Personality – Le Parisien
First Person: Daniela Trpchevska – Financial Times
Vlado Taneski – Murderopedia
Reporter’s Inside Information on Insidious Crimes Reveals Unfathomable Double Life – Life Daily
Municipality of Kicevo – Interreg
Kicevo, History & Culture – Travel2Macedonia
Macedonia, The World Factbook – CIA
Macedonia Country Profile – BBC
Macedonia, University Libraries
Macedonia, Crime and Safety Report 2017
Journalism Ethics – Principles of Conduct
THIS EPISODE’S SPONSORS
ZipRecruiter – Post your jobs for FREE
Quip – Get your first refill pack FREE with a QUIP electric toothbrush
Crimes of Passion – New podcast from the Parcast Network
ShipStation – Try ShipStation FREE for 30 days plus get an additional month FREE when you use promo code ‘casefile’
The Macedonian city of Kicevo is situated within the slopes of Bistra Mountain. It offers little appeal for visitors, with its post-Yugoslavian buildings, crumbled sidewalks, and bleak houses in desperate need of renovation. Most tourists don’t bother stopping through, only glimpsing its sign on the journey south from Macedonia’s capital of Skopje to Lake Ohrid on the Albanian border.
As was the case with most post-Yugoslavian states, the Macedonian government invested its money into more prominent and popular locales. This meant smaller towns and villages like Kicevo were often overlooked and forgotten, deteriorating quickly as they fell behind the fast-paced advances of modern life. Life was slow in Kicevo, where its 20,000 residents enjoyed a quiet and relatively peaceful existence, harboured by a close-knit community with strong traditional values. As such, Kicevo was rarely mentioned on national Macedonian news. That is, until a chilling discovery on January 12, 2005, sent shockwaves around the nation.
______
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode researched by Mike Migas and Paulina Szymanska
Episode
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
VIDEO:
Murder He Wrote: Vlado Taneski – Evil Up Close, 2012
ARTICLES:
The Mask of Sanity: On the Trail of a Serial Killer in Macedonia – VQR
Murder, He Wrote – Philip Watson
‘Serial murder’ journalist commits suicide – Independent
Macedonian Murder Suspect Dead in Cell – The New York Times
The shocking story of the newspaper crime reporter who knew too much – The Guardian
The strange case of a journalist with a killer deadline – The Irish Times
Murder He Wrote: Chilling Death Details – ABC News
He Had a Double Personality – Le Parisien
First Person: Daniela Trpchevska – Financial Times
Vlado Taneski – Murderopedia
Reporter’s Inside Information on Insidious Crimes Reveals Unfathomable Double Life – Life Daily
Kicevo, History & Culture – Travel2Macedonia
Macedonia, The World Factbook – CIA
Macedonia Country Profile – BBC
Macedonia, University Libraries
Macedonia, Crime and Safety Report 2017
Journalism Ethics – Principles of Conduct
THIS EPISODE’S SPONSORS
ZipRecruiter – Post your jobs for FREE
Quip – Get your first refill pack FREE with a QUIP electric toothbrush
Crimes of Passion – New podcast from the
ShipStation – Try ShipStation FREE for 30 days plus get an additional month FREE when you use promo code ‘casefile’
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