TEREZA HOLUB LACKOVA AND MAREK HOLUB'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN BIRMINGHAM LEAVES YOUNG BOY DEAD

In October 2015, a tragic case emerged from Birmingham involving the death of a 14-month-old boy named Santino Balaz, whose life was cut short under horrifying circumstances. The child's caregivers, Tereza Lackova and her boyfriend Marek Holub, became the focus of a criminal investigation after disturbing injuries and abuse allegations came to light.

It was revealed that Santino suffered from a series of brutal assaults, with evidence indicating he was subjected to at least three separate attacks within his Birmingham flat. The young boy was under the care of his half-sister, Tereza Lackova, and her partner, Marek Holub. The post-mortem examination uncovered a disturbing pattern of fractures and trauma injuries that had accumulated over the weeks leading up to his death, painting a grim picture of ongoing abuse.

Initially, the couple attempted to explain the injuries through a bizarre and supernatural narrative, claiming that the boy had been possessed by spirits—specifically, the ghost of Lackova’s recently deceased grandmother, or possibly the spirit of the previous occupant of their flat. They alleged that these spirits had caused Santino harm, a story that was later discredited.

As the investigation progressed, the couple’s story unraveled, and they ultimately pleaded guilty to their respective charges during a trial at Leicester Crown Court. Marek Holub, aged 27, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years after admitting to charges of murder, child neglect, and cruelty. His partner, Tereza Lackova, was sentenced to five years in prison after admitting to allowing the death of a child and neglect.

The couple’s arrest followed the discovery of multiple injuries on Santino’s small body, including bruises on his face, chest, legs, and arms. These injuries raised serious concerns about his welfare and prompted a police investigation. Detective Inspector Justin Spanner of West Midlands Police emphasized the importance of community vigilance, highlighting that the couple had shared images of Santino’s injuries on their Facebook accounts, falsely attributing the harm to supernatural causes.

Inspector Spanner expressed his disappointment that no one had come forward earlier to report concerns about the child's welfare, despite the disturbing images circulating online. He urged the public to be proactive in reporting any suspicions of child abuse or neglect, emphasizing that such reports could lead to necessary checks and interventions to protect vulnerable children.

Commenting on the case, DI Spanner stated, “Santino was supposed to be in a safe environment and in the care of his own family. The death of such a young child is always tragic, but the suffering he endured over his brief life is truly dreadful. We can only take comfort in the fact that Tereza Lackova and Marek Holub are now behind bars for a significant period.”