Kateřina of Komárov was born into a modest noble family in the small town of Komárov in the Kingdom of Bohemia. Her early life is sparsely documented, but it is known that her family were lower-tier landowners, not among the major nobility. Her social rise came through marriage to Jan Bechyně of Lažany, a highly influential member of Bohemian aristocracy and the burgrave of Karlštejn Castle.

Through her marriage, Kateřina moved into the upper echelon of Czech society and was given control over her husband’s private estates in Pičín and Příbram—particularly during his frequent absences tied to his administrative duties. In this capacity, she wielded significant authority over the serfs and servants under her domain.

However, her governance quickly became infamous. Locals began whispering about her cruel and sadistic punishments, often targeting young female servants and serfs. While the full extent of her abuses remained hidden for years, the rumors of whippings, starvation, beatings, and unexplained deaths eventually reached the ears of both clergy and nobility.

By 1533, reports of Kateřina’s brutality had reached the Dean of the Karlštejn chapter, Wenceslaus Hájek—who would later become a respected chronicler. He relayed the alarming rumors to her husband, Jan Bechyně, who initially dismissed them as provocations and retaliated by suing Hájek. Undeterred, the matter was brought before a tribunal chaired by Vojtěch I of Pernštejn, convening sessions in Pičín to examine the allegations. At first, terrified serfs testified in favor of Kateřina, portraying her as benevolent. This changed when a Prague citizen—safe from reprisals due to being beyond her jurisdiction—publicly accused Kateřina of murdering his relatives. His bold testimony emboldened other survivors to come forward with the truth.

Under mounting evidence, Kateřina confessed to the murder of 14 serfs. Yet whispers circulated that the death toll may have been as high as 30 victims, per accounts from some servants.

In what was considered an unusual sentence for that era, the tribunal decreed that Kateřina should not face execution by conventional means. Instead, she was immured—imprisoned in a high tower at Prague Castle (Mihulka Tower) and left to starve as a form of punishment. She died there on March 15, 1534. Intriguingly, two days later, her judge, Vojtěch I of Pernštejn, also passed away—a coincidence that sparked rumors suggesting she had "dragged him down with her". Her husband, Jan Bechyně, weathered the scandal with minimal impact. He retained influence and was later appointed as a high scribe, maintaining his position until his death in 1547.