Zdzisław Marchwicki was born on 18 October 1927 in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland. He grew up in a dysfunctional family. His father, Józef, had been married five times and had four children from those marriages. Zdzisław had siblings who later played roles in supporting him with his activities.

As a child, Zdzisław showed little interest in school. He had an average level of intelligence but struggled with his studies. Because of this, he did not graduate from school.

From 1964 to 1970, Zdzisław Marchwicki was linked to a series of brutal attacks on women in the Dąbrowa Basin and Upper Silesia in Poland. In total, 19 women were assaulted, 14 of whom died. The attacks began on November 7, 1964, when the body of 15-year-old Anna Mycek was found in Katowice. The autopsy revealed she died from blunt force trauma to the head, and her body was moved and exposed.

In the months that followed, more women were killed or assaulted in similar ways. By 1965, police connected the cases, leading to fears among residents. Many women in nearby towns were afraid to go out alone. The killer was nicknamed "The Zagłębie Vampire." A special investigation was launched, focusing on characteristics of the attacks.

Despite the severity of the attacks, no one was arrested until January 6, 1972, when Maria Marchwicki reported her husband, Zdzisław, for abuse and suspected him of being the Vampire. Marchwicki was arrested soon after. His behavior during interrogations was peculiar. He often denied the accusations but acted erratically, even trying to swallow evidence.

In 1974, Marchwicki stood trial along with several members of his family who were accused of being involved in the crimes. The court charged him with 14 murders and 7 attempted murders. On July 28, 1975, he and his brother Jan received the death penalty.

Zdzisław Marchwicki was executed by hanging on April 26, 1977. After his execution, his grave was buried in an unmarked cemetery for criminals. The nature of the case and evidence surrounding his guilt has been a topic of debate, with some later sources questioning the fairness of the trial and suggesting he might have been innocent.