Police launch homicide investigation after woman found dead in Kędzierzyn-Koźle forest

Discovery in the Żabieniec forest

A passerby discovered the body of a deceased woman at approximately 18:30 on Friday, 28 August 2026, in a wooded area bordering the Żabieniec housing estate in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Opole Voivodeship. The victim's pet dog remained beside the body when the walker came across the scene and immediately notified law enforcement. Officers from the local police department and an on-duty prosecutor arrived at the location to secure the perimeter and initiate forensic procedures. Because the discovery took place in the late evening, local fire service units were dispatched with portable lighting equipment to illuminate the dark woodland. Forensic specialists and investigators worked under floodlights for multiple hours through Friday night to collect physical evidence, map the surroundings, and preserve footprints and material traces.

Forensic findings and weapon details

Initial visual examinations of the victim confirmed that she died as a result of a direct violent assault. Investigators identified at least three distinct trauma marks on the body, including two extensive blunt-force injuries to the head inflicted by a hard, edged weapon. Regional authorities stated that the physical evidence collected so far indicates no signs of a sexual assault.

During the visual examination, at least three injury marks were found, two on the head, extensive wounds, most likely blunt-force, inflicted with a hard, edged tool.

The prosecutor's office formally appointed a forensic pathologist to conduct a full post-mortem examination, which will establish the precise mechanical cause and timeline of death. Spokesperson Stanisław Bar of the District Prosecutor's Office in Opole noted that detectives are working to reconstruct the victim's final movements and identify the exact weapon used in the attack.

Victim background and community reaction

The victim was identified as a resident of the adjacent Żabieniec neighbourhood, estimated to be around 40 years old. Local reports indicated that the woman's husband was residing abroad for employment purposes at the time of the incident. Investigators believe the victim had left her home for a routine evening walk with her dog when the assailant attacked her in the forest.

We know that the body belongs to a resident of a nearby housing estate. Most likely, the woman went out for a walk with her dog, and that was when the murder took place.

The discovery prompted significant discussion across local social media networks, where unofficial claims circulated regarding possible murder committed with extreme cruelty. Police representatives addressed the community discussions by clarifying that such characterizations remain unverified rumors that have not been substantiated by official findings.

Search operations and ongoing inquiry

On Saturday, 29 August 2026, police detectives and forensic teams returned to the wooded area in Kędzierzyn-Koźle to conduct a secondary inspection in full daylight. The investigation is formally supervised by the District Prosecutor's Office in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, with operational assistance from criminal investigators from the Opole Provincial Police Headquarters. Ewelina Karpińska from the press team of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Opole confirmed that officers are processing evidence and verifying all leads related to the incident.

We can confirm that around 18:30 on the grounds of one of the forest complexes in Kędzierzyn-Koźle the body of a woman was found. Police officers are working on site under prosecutor supervision. We are securing traces and evidence and trying to establish all circumstances of this event.

As of Saturday afternoon, no suspects have been detained in connection with the homicide. Law enforcement authorities have issued a public appeal asking residents who witnessed suspicious individuals or unusual circumstances near the Żabieniec forest on Friday evening to contact the police immediately.