Home-Invasion in Korneuburg Solved: Two Suspects in Custody After Brutal Assault on 88-Year-Old

The two criminals took the 88-year-old's mobile phone and disconnected the landline telephone from the power supply to prevent a rapid alert of the emergency services. They then fled with a small amount of cash. The senior was, however, able to free herself; a neighbor alerted the emergency services.

From the punches and kicks, the 88-year-old suffered hematomas all over her body and on her face, as well as injuries to her back and spine. She had to be treated as an inpatient for a total of 16 days in two hospitals. Medical care is still required months after the crime.

Serious Injuries and Lasting Consequences

The pensioner now lives again in her home, where she is cared for through regular daytime care, as police announced. The consequences of the assault are, however, lasting and continue to require extensive care.

Investigations by the robbery and crime scene group of the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Austria initially yielded suspicion against an 18-year-old Serbian national at the time of the assault. The young man was caught in the act and arrested on April 8, 2026, in Vienna as part of a five-person group while committing an attempted home-invasion.

Investigative Success Through DNA Evidence

DNA evidence from the attempted home-invasion in Vienna linked the 18-year-old to the crime in Lower Austria. During his interrogation at Vienna Josefstadt Correctional Facility, he was "umfassend geständig" according to police, but initially provided only vague information about his accomplice.

Based on findings from investigations in Serbia — coordinated through the liaison office in Belgrade — the 18-year-old suspect was ultimately able to clearly identify his accomplice: "konnte der 18-jährige Beschuldigte seinen Mittäter eindeutig als einen zur Tatzeit 51-jährigen serbischen Staatsbürger identifizieren," police stated.

Arrest in Bosnia and Extradition Proceedings

A European arrest warrant was issued for the 51-year-old. On July 3, 2026, he was arrested in Bosnia and has been in extradition custody since then. The extradition proceedings are ongoing, and a date for transfer to Austria has not yet been set, according to police.

Investigators consider the case solved. Both suspects are Serbian nationals, according to police. The amount of cash stolen was not specified by the authorities, but is described as "gering" (small).

The State Criminal Police Office of Lower Austria praised the cross-border cooperation with the Serbian authorities and the liaison office in Belgrade. Without this coordination, the identification of the second suspect would hardly have been possible, the statement said.

Victim protection and care are a high priority in the case: the pensioner continues to receive close medical and nursing care. Police pointed out that the consequences of the assault still require medical care months after the crime.

Warning About Fake Tradespeople

In the attempted new burglary in Vienna in April 2026, the 18-year-old suspect was active together with four other persons. Whether there is a connection to the crime in Lower Austria or whether additional accomplices are involved is the subject of ongoing investigations.

Police are once again warning about the scam involving fake tradespeople or service technicians. Persons who appear unannounced at the front door and demand entry should always be critically scrutinized and, if in doubt, the police should be notified.

Legally, the two suspects are charged with aggravated robbery, grievous bodily harm, and coercion. A decision on indictment and a possible trial date has not yet been made. Both men are in pretrial detention.

Legal Consequences

With the arrests in Vienna and Bosnia, one chapter of a particularly brutal crime against an elderly woman has been closed for now. Police announced that the case will be pursued consistently and that possible additional accomplices will also be investigated.

The case attracted attention beyond the region because the manner in which the crime was carried out was described as extraordinarily brutal and the victim is considered particularly in need of protection. The resolution is presented by the executive as a success of cross-border investigative work.