Cold-Blooded Killer Hid Girlfriend’s Body for 15 Years
A Polish woman has been found guilty of brutally murdering her girlfriend and burying her remains under a garden patio for 15 years. Anna Podedworna, 40, showed no emotion as the jury at Derby Crown Court delivered the damning verdict on Tuesday.
Despite denying murder, claiming the death was an accident during a fight, Podedworna admitted dismembering Izabela Zablocka, 30, but insisted she acted in self-defence — a claim the jury rejected.
Tense Relationship Torn Apart by Gender Surgery Dispute
Anna and Izabela moved from Poland to Derby in 2009. The pair, working as a butcher and turkey factory packer, lived a turbulent life marked by arguments over money, booze, and Izabela’s refusal to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
Though a lesbian couple, Podedworna reportedly preferred men and pressured Izabela to have the surgery. Izabela’s resistance only fuelled the tension and escalated bitterness in their relationship.
Body Hidden in Bin Bags Beneath Garden Patio
Izabela vanished in 2010 and was declared a missing person after just 10 days. The police closed the case prematurely, leaving her family desperate for answers. It wasn’t until Izabela’s daughter turned to Polish missing persons charities, and a journalist confronted Anna, that the horrific truth came out.
Last May, Podedworna finally confessed. She revealed she’d buried Izabela’s dismembered body under the garden’s hardstanding, wrapped in black bin bags mixed with animal bones. Due to the long time lapse, the exact cause of death couldn’t be established, but police uncovered damning mobile phone searches linked to murder and prison life.
Chilling Confession and Damning Police Statement
In court, Podedworna admitted attacking Izabela with a horse figurine during a struggle, claiming it was self-defence after being strangled. She confessed to slicing the body in two with a kitchen knife on the living room floor and hiding the remains in a makeshift grave.
“I felt like some sort of monster,” she said.
Detective Inspector Kane Martin blasted her cold-hearted actions: “Anna Podedworna, a highly skilled butcher, treated Izabela no differently than a piece of meat. By her own admission, she acted like a monster. She lied, obstructed justice, and showed utter selfishness.”
DI Martin praised Izabela’s family for their relentless pursuit of justice: “The suspicion was mounting, and Podedworna was forced into a corner.”
Prosecutor Condemns Callous Crime
Samantha Shallow from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Izabela came to Derby hoping for a fresh start but met a tragic and untimely end. Anna Podedworna’s cold, calculated actions denied her family closure for 15 years. Justice has now caught up with her. Our deepest sympathies go to Izabela’s loved ones.”
Podedworna is due for sentencing at Derby Crown Court on Wednesday.
