Fit for a Killer: Poland's Darkest Case Revisited
A new docuseries examines the grotesque murder of Katarzyna Zowada and the controversial conviction that followed
By
Susanne SperlingIn January 1999, investigators in Kraków, Poland retrieved a horrifying discovery from the Vistula River: a "corset" fashioned from human skin. DNA testing would later confirm it belonged to Katarzyna Zowada, a young student whose disappearance had baffled authorities.
The grotesque nature of the remains—and their deliberate arrangement—pointed to a killer of exceptional cruelty. Yet despite this gruesome lead, the investigation stalled. Years passed with no resolution, the case growing cold as other crimes demanded attention.
Then, after nearly two decades of silence, Robert Janczewski was arrested and charged with Zowada's murder. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, seemingly providing closure to a horrifying chapter in Polish criminal history.
But the story didn't end there.
Janczewski's release in 2024 marked a shocking reversal—one rooted in serious doubts about how prosecutors had handled the evidence and built their case against him. Questions emerged about investigative procedures, the reliability of the prosecution's narrative, and whether the right person had truly been convicted for such a heinous crime.
**The Docuseries**
*Fit for a Killer* chronicles both the lead-up to Janczewski's arrest and the fallout that followed his conviction and subsequent release. The three-episode series examines the mishandling of the nearly two-decade-old investigation, exploring how institutional failures impacted not only the accused but also the memory of the victim herself.
The docuseries presents a complex portrait of a case that should have been straightforward—the evidence was gruesome and specific—yet somehow became entangled in prosecutorial missteps and investigative oversights. For viewers interested in how even the most horrifying crimes can be undermined by flawed legal processes, *Fit for a Killer* offers an unflinching examination.
Each episode runs approximately 47 minutes, providing substantial depth into the investigation, the conviction, and the extraordinary circumstances that led to Janczewski's release after years behind bars.
**Where to Watch**
*Fit for a Killer* is currently available on Hulu as a complete first season with all three episodes streaming online. The series is also scheduled for release on Apple TV, with episodes expected to arrive in 2026.
For international audiences seeking to understand one of Poland's most disturbing criminal cases—and the judicial system's complex relationship with seeking justice—the docuseries provides essential viewing. It raises uncomfortable questions about conviction, evidence, and the possibility of wrongful imprisonment, even in cases where the crime itself is among the most brutal imaginable.
The Zowada case remains a sobering reminder that sensational evidence and institutional pressure can sometimes obscure rather than illuminate the truth.
**Sources**
https://www.hulu.com/series/fit-for-a-killer-bf5abce0-3ae6-47a0-9359-a890cff02ed3
https://tv.apple.com/us/show/fit-for-a-killer/umc.cmc.6qt1ed8svwqpo3yfen5j9rv1y