Ernő Vadász was born on 6 May 1960 in the town of Tiszacsege, Hungary. His early life was shaped by hardship, instability, and a string of poor choices. Vadász himself claimed to have experienced a troubled childhood, though specific details are sparse. From a young age, he became entangled in petty crime, which eventually led to repeated incarceration.

Rather than trying to build a stable life after each release from prison, Vadász would fall into a cycle of alcohol abuse and recidivism. He spent most of his time drinking in local bars and was known for avoiding work or any long-term responsibility. He formed a close friendship with István Lakatos, another local man with a reputation for violence and antisocial behavior.

Together, the two became notorious in their community. Locals feared them for their quick tempers, physical aggression, and brazen attitude.

On 10 November 1986, Ernő Vadász and István Lakatos met, as usual, at their local bar in Tiszacsege. Over drinks, they overheard gossip that József Hajdú, another patron, lived alone, making him an easy target. The pair decided then and there to rob him.

Later that night, they entered Hajdú’s house through an unlocked front door and woke him by shining a flashlight in his eyes. They tied his hands behind his back with an electrical cord and covered his head with a sheet. As they ransacked the house, they took turns beating him, growing increasingly violent when they realized Hajdú had nothing of value, offering only bacon in desperation.

At one point, while Vadász dismantled the man’s radio and TV, Lakatos forced the terrified victim to play a game of chess, a chillingly bizarre moment in an already sadistic ordeal. They left after threatening to burn Hajdú’s house if he reported them. Their total haul? 350 forints, razorblades, and a table clock.

Less than a month later, on 10 December 1986, they struck again. This time, their target was Imre Juhász, another local man. They broke into his home on Dobó Street, knocked him down, and searched him for money, only to find out he hadn’t collected his paycheck.

Frustrated, they stole whatever they could: a gas lighter, documents, two cigarette packs, and brandy. But when Juhász began to stir, they stomped on his head, and Vadász jumped off furniture onto his stomach, causing severe internal injuries. To finish him off, they shoved a plastic bag down his throat, leaving him to die of suffocation.

The crimes escalated in brutality. Vadász and Lakatos continued to rob homes, beat acquaintances, and steal trivial items like beer, bicycles, and cigarettes. In one case, they broke into a restaurant and stole 4,000 forints, a calculator, and multiple cigarette packs.

Eventually, their violent streak ended on 6 January 1987, when police arrested both men. They were already familiar faces to law enforcement.

On 12 January 1988, a court found them both guilty. Vadász was sentenced to death for premeditated murder, robbery, and fraud, while Lakatos received 18 years in prison with 10 years deprivation of civil rights. Appeals were submitted to the Curia of Hungary, but Justice György Pálinkás upheld the original ruling on 18 May 1988. Vadász later petitioned for clemency, which was denied by the Presidential Council.

On 13 July 1988, just one day before his execution, Ernő Vadász was interviewed in prison by journalist János Farkas of Hajdú-Bihari Napló. Vadász refused to speak about his crimes or personal life, but threatened suicide, saying he would bash his head against the toilet seat to avoid hanging.

Despite this, the execution proceeded as scheduled. At 5:00 AM on 14 July 1988, Vadász was hanged at the Budapest Prison and Detention Center by executioner György Pradlik.