Polish pathologist Magdalena H. arrested after 34 human fetuses found buried in Lutoryż near Rzeszów

What was unearthed

On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, a digger operator working on a private plot in Lutoryż near Rzeszów unearthed medical waste including human fetal remains. Police from nearby Boguchwała were called to the scene and confirmed the find. The property had been sold a few months earlier; the previous owner was a 57-year-old pathologist, Magdalena H.

The five-day crime scene search

From that afternoon until Saturday evening, a major police operation unfolded. Officers from Rzeszów city and provincial commands, supported by forensic specialists, painstakingly sifted every batch of soil to secure evidence. A police spokesperson described the effort:

“Each load of soil had to be thoroughly checked and sieved so that no trace was missed or destroyed.”

The site was guarded around the clock, and on Friday dogs from the Rzeszów branch of the Cynological Association joined the search. The dogs worked in soil saturated with tissue odour and mixed with tiny laboratory glass shards. Investigators also deployed a georadar. After interpreting its readings, the prosecutor ordered the on-site actions to cease and the property was returned to its current owners. The final tally of recovered fetuses varied across sources: the Polish Press Agency cited 34, while earlier figures ranged from 29 to 32.

Arrest and admission

Magdalena H. was detained on 12 June in Zamość. She was initially hospitalised due to health issues and later appeared before prosecutors. According to the spokesperson of the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Rzeszów, prosecutor Krzysztof Ciechanowski, the suspect did not state whether she pleaded guilty but gave explanations.

“The suspect’s explanations indicate that she personally transported and buried the human fetuses and other medical waste found on her property.”

The investigation is still examining whether others were involved or if the case is linked to abortion procedures.

Legal consequences

Magdalena H. faces a single charge combining desecration of a corpse (Article 262 of the Penal Code) and illegal dumping of hazardous waste (Article 183), carrying a penalty of up to 12 years’ imprisonment. The court granted the prosecutor’s request for a three-month pre-trial detention and she will remain in custody at least until mid-September 2026. The prosecutor’s office continues to determine the age of the fetuses and how long they remained buried. During the search, hundreds of officers received support from the local community, with residents providing parking and other courtesies that aided the operation.