The tragic disappearance of a premature baby from a Vienna clinic has taken a horrifying turn, with reports now pointing to an “honor killing” within a Turkish family.
Austrian media revealed that the incident, initially suspected to be either a case of child abduction or infanticide caused by postpartum depression, involved the brutal murder of baby Melek.
The baby vanished from her crib in the neonatal ward of a clinic in Vienna-Favoriten, a district with a significant migrant population. When the 30-year-old mother could no longer endure police questioning, she confessed to the unthinkable. She led authorities to her daughter’s body, wrapped in plastic and a blanket, discarded in a nearby waste container.
Investigators initially believed Melek had succumbed to the freezing winter temperatures, but an autopsy revealed a far more brutal cause of death: multiple blunt-force trauma resulting in a skull-brain injury. The shocking discovery left even seasoned officers reeling.
The motive appears to stem from “hurt honor” within the family’s Turkish clan. Melek’s parents were unmarried, and the child’s existence was allegedly considered a dishonor by some members of their community. Investigators now suspect the mother was pressured by male relatives to commit the act, and they are exploring the possibility of additional accomplices.
Police continue to search for the exact crime scene, as evidence does not suggest the killing occurred within the clinic. This deeply disturbing case highlights cultural clashes and the devastating consequences of such archaic notions of “honor.”
