Death of Hedviga Golik

Hedviga Golik (1924–1966) was a Croatian woman who died of unknown natural causes alone in her apartment. Her body remained undisturbed for 42 years until it was discovered in May 2008.

Golik was a former nurse, originally from Rijeka, who lived in the Medveščak neighbourhood of Zagreb, near Gupčeva zvijezda square. She resided in an 18-square-metre (190 sq ft) one-room attic apartment, isolated from the lower floors of the four-storey building, from 1961. Her last place of employment was at Trešnjevka's community health center. The flat was provided by the building's superintendent, Hinković, who was formerly her boyfriend. Both were purported to be Jehovah's Witnesses and it was reported that Hinković had been involved in the construction of the building, having received the attic apartment in lieu of payment. She was known to have a sister, who worked as a school teacher in Zagreb, but they reportedly broke off contact due to quarreling.

A neighbour, Katica Carić, described Golik as eccentric and prone to mood swings. She switched between being quiet and reclusive, and extremely belligerent and hectic. She never socialized with other tenants, but was known for yelling at people for any reason and aimlessly running around the street. She often had angry outbursts even when she was helped and it was suspected that she had schizophrenia. Carić ran errands for her, such as buying groceries, but they never talked, as Golik would not leave her floor, instead lowering a bucket with money and a written list down the stairs, with the items to be dropped off on Golik's doorstep. Golik often left for extended periods, during which time she rented the apartment out to others. Carić claimed to have last seen Golik outside her apartment in the company of two or three young men, the year being quoted as either 1963, 1967, or 1973.