Marie Fikáčková, born Marie Schmidl, entered the world on 9 September 1936 in Sušice, a picturesque town nestled in what was then Czechoslovakia. Her upbringing within a troubled Sudeten German family was marked by dysfunction and instability, influencing her formative years profoundly. Despite these hardships, Marie pursued a career in nursing, perhaps driven by a desire to find stability and meaning in helping others. After graduating from medical school in Klatovy in 1955, she quickly began work in the obstetrics department at the local hospital in Sušice by 1957.
Initially, life at the hospital seemed routine for Marie, but behind her calm professional facade, personal difficulties continued to haunt her. Her marriage to a Czech man soon ended unhappily, further complicating her feelings of loneliness, bitterness, and resentment.
The Tragic Discovery
On 23 February 1960, a sense of shock gripped the small obstetrics ward in Sušice hospital when two newborn baby girls died suddenly and inexplicably. One infant was only 20 hours old, and the other was five weeks. Initially mysterious, their deaths soon raised serious suspicion following autopsy results that revealed distressing injuries—fractured skulls and even a broken hand.
The investigation swiftly pointed towards Marie Fikáčková. Four days later, authorities arrested Marie right at the hospital. Though initially defensive, Marie soon confessed under questioning. Her admission was alarming, detailing how she was overwhelmed by sudden, uncontrollable bursts of anger when the infants cried, leading to violent attacks on these helpless newborns.
Motives and Confessions
Marie described her motive as stemming from intense periods of paedophobia—a severe fear and irrational anger toward children—especially during her menstrual cycles. The constant crying of babies triggered these uncontrollable outbursts. Marie also suggested a darker motivation rooted in personal grievances, stating she targeted Czech children as revenge for insults she had received related to her German heritage.
Further interrogation revealed even more disturbing revelations. Marie confessed she had been responsible for the deaths of at least ten newborns since her employment began in 1957. However, the authorities could only conclusively prove her guilt in the two recent cases.
The Trial and Execution of Marie Fikáčková
Marie’s trial was brief but intense. Medical experts declared her legally sane, despite noting severe emotional instability, frequent depression, and hysterical tendencies. Her mental health was scrutinized, yet ultimately, her actions were deemed deliberate and criminal.
Found guilty of murder, Marie was swiftly sentenced to death by hanging. On 13 April 1961, her sentence was carried out at Pankrác Prison in Prague, closing a dark chapter in Czech history.
Legacy and Lessons Learned
The tragedy exposed significant shortcomings in hospital oversight, yet remarkably, no other medical or administrative staff faced consequences. Authorities quickly hushed up the scandal, keeping it hidden from public view for decades.
Marie Fikáčková’s troubling story continues to remind us of the importance of mental health support, proper supervision in healthcare, and the complexities of human psychology. It serves as a poignant, albeit grim, reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the most vulnerable and maintain vigilance in caregiving environments.
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