Butcher Convicted of Murdering Partner and Burying Remains in Garden After 15-Year Cover-Up
A Polish poultry butcher has been found guilty of murdering her partner, dismembering the body, and concealing the remains in a garden, bringing a 15-year mystery to a close. Anna Podedworna, 40, was convicted at Derby Crown Court for the killing of Izabela Zablocka in August 2010, a case that had long gone unsolved until renewed efforts by the victim's family and journalists.
Gruesome Details of the Crime and Disposal
Podedworna admitted to hitting Ms Zablocka, a 30-year-old mother of one, over the head during an argument at their home in Normanton, Derby. Instead of seeking medical help, she took two weeks off work and embarked on what prosecutors described as a "gruesome and time-consuming" effort to dispose of the body. Using skills from her job at Cranberry Foods, a poultry factory in Scropton, Derbyshire, she cut the body in half, bound the legs with electrical tape, and buried the remains in bin bags under concrete in the garden.
During the trial, Podedworna claimed self-defence, alleging that Ms Zablocka had tried to strangle her. However, she confessed to the jury that she decided to bury the body because she felt terrified and lacked the strength to move it whole. "I had an idea to cut her down. It seemed the only way... to cut her into two," she stated, revealing the chilling rationale behind her actions.
Long Road to Justice and Emotional Impact
The case remained cold for years, with Ms Zablocka's family in Poland repeatedly reporting her missing to little avail. Her daughter, who was a child at the time of the disappearance, grew up without answers until 2024, when she contacted a Polish missing persons organisation. This sparked a renewed investigation, leading a Polish journalist to interview Podedworna, which ultimately pressured her into confessing to police.
Samantha Shallow from the Crown Prosecution Service emphasised the emotional toll, saying, "Anna Podedworna not only brutally murdered her partner, but she subjected Izabela’s loved ones to 15 years of uncertainty and anguish." Podedworna was found guilty of murder, preventing a lawful burial, and perverting the course of justice, and now faces a significant prison sentence.
This case highlights issues of delayed justice and the profound impact on families, particularly within immigrant communities in the UK. The conviction serves as a reminder of the importance of persistent investigative efforts in solving long-standing crimes.
