Ernő Vadász was born on May 6, 1960, in the town of Tiszacsege, located in eastern Hungary. From an early age, Vadász was noted for his difficult upbringing and rebellious tendencies. He claimed to have suffered through a troubled childhood, which later manifested in a cycle of petty criminal behavior. These early offenses led to multiple stints in juvenile detention and prison. Upon his release, he made little effort to reintegrate into society or find stable employment, instead spending most of his time in local pubs, often drunk and disruptive.

By the mid-1980s, Vadász had developed a reputation as a volatile and dangerous presence in Tiszacsege. He frequently associated with István Lakatos, a similarly inclined local man. The two became feared figures in their small community due to their propensity for violence, intimidation, and escalating criminal acts. Rather than attempting to rehabilitate or stabilize, Vadász leaned into his criminal path, and by 1986, he and Lakatos had graduated from theft and burglary to violent home invasions.

The sequence of crimes that led to Ernő Vadász’s execution began on November 10, 1986, when he and his close associate, István Lakatos, were drinking at a local pub in Tiszacsege. During the evening, the pair overheard other patrons gossiping about József Hajdú, an elderly man who was said to live alone. Seizing the opportunity, the duo decided to rob him that night.

Later that evening, Vadász and Lakatos entered Hajdú’s home through an unlocked door. Shining a flashlight in his eyes to disorient him, they dragged him from bed, bound his arms with an electric cord, and covered his head with a sheet. Over the course of their burglary, they took turns physically assaulting the man. When they realized Hajdú had little of value—offering only bacon—their frustration turned to fury. Vadász dismantled the radio and television while Lakatos forced Hajdú to play a humiliating game of chess. After ransacking the apartment and issuing death threats should he call the police, the two fled. Their total haul was a mere 350 forints, a few razorblades, and a table clock.

Approximately one month later, on December 10, 1986, the pair escalated their crimes. They targeted Imre Juhász, another local man, breaking into his home on Dobó Street. After knocking him unconscious and searching his clothing for money, they discovered he had not received his wages. Enraged, they instead stole a gas lighter, two packs of cigarettes, some documents, and half a liter of brandy. When Juhász regained partial consciousness, the men attacked again. Vadász jumped from a piece of furniture onto the man’s abdomen, and they proceeded to stuff a plastic bag into his mouth. The severe internal injuries, combined with asphyxiation, led to Juhász’s death.

The string of crimes did not end there. Over the following weeks, Vadász and Lakatos continued to rob homes, steal bicycles, and violently assault their victims—often escaping with little more than beer, coins, or cigarettes. In one incident, they beat an elderly acquaintance after breaking into his apartment, and later broke into a restaurant, stealing 4,000 forints and some goods.

On January 6, 1987, the pair were arrested by local police, who were well acquainted with their criminal histories. Charged with multiple crimes, including robbery, burglary, and the murder of Imre Juhász, they were swiftly prosecuted. On January 12, 1988, the court handed Vadász a death sentence for murder, robbery, theft, and fraud. Lakatos, found to have played a secondary role, received an 18-year prison sentence and was stripped of his civil rights for ten years.

Vadász’s appeals were rejected by the Hungarian Supreme Court (Curia), and his petition for clemency was denied by the Presidential Council. On July 13, 1988, a day before his scheduled execution, he was interviewed by journalist János Farkas. Vadász refused to answer personal questions or reflect on his crimes, instead stating that he preferred to commit suicide rather than be hanged. However, no suicide attempt occurred.

On the morning of July 14, 1988, at approximately 5:00 AM, Ernő Vadász was executed by hanging at the Budapest Prison and Detention Center. The execution was carried out by György Pradlik, Hungary’s last state executioner. This marked the final use of the death penalty in Hungary. Capital punishment was officially abolished two years later, in 1990. The judge who sentenced Vadász later commented in a 2009 interview that he still believed capital punishment should be retained for especially brutal crimes like those committed by Vadász.