Murder by inheritance: A man sets fire to his aunt on a staircase

Bucharest, Romania – The Romanian capital was the scene of a tragic event this Monday, November 6, 2023, when an inheritance dispute escalated into an unimaginable act of violence. Liliana Popa, a woman resident of Sector 6, was burned alive on the stairs of the apartment block where she lived, in an attack carried out by her nephew, Alexandru Ionuț Popa.

The atrocious event that ended Liliana's life was reported by eyewitnesses, including the building employee, who made desperate efforts to save the victim. Alexandru Ionuț Popa, 33, dragged her aunt out of her apartment and, after a violent assault that left her unconscious, set her on fire using gasoline.

Horrified neighbors on the block, some heroically trying to rescue Liliana, with one of her neighbors narrowly avoiding being hit by the flames. Despite immediate calls to the 112 emergency service, the efforts of the doctors who responded to the scene could only confirm Popa's death.

The employee who witnessed the incident recounted in detail her experience and the failed attempt to stop the attacker, providing harrowing testimony to authorities. "When the man doused his aunt with gasoline, some of the liquid also fell at her feet. Because of this, when he lit the fire, the flames burned her pants, reaching her skin. "

Preliminary investigations revealed that Alexandru Popa had purchased gasoline that same morning, indicating premeditation. In addition, Alexandru Popa already had a history of violence, including a recent incident that resulted in a judicial protection order against him, with another family member, and was under the radar of the authorities for previous drug problems.

After committing the murder, Alexandru tried to flee, despite the burns he himself suffered in the process. He was later captured by police, who have launched a criminal case for aggravated murder.