Paramedic’s ex-wife faces new suspicion over car fires

Justina Sadauskienė, the former wife of murdered paramedic Mantas Sadauskas, faces a new suspicion of organising the destruction of high-value property in a way that posed a danger to the public, LRT reported Wednesday.

The new suspicion was brought after Panevėžys Regional Prosecutor Lukas Krivickas decided to combine an investigation into cars set on fire nearly two years ago with the investigation into Sadauskas’s murder and other alleged crimes. The vehicles had been used by the paramedic.

Sadauskienė and Vilius Solkanas are already suspected of killing Sadauskas in April. They also face suspicions of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, as well as a large quantity of drugs.

A court on Wednesday extended Solkanas’s detention for three months, until January 21, 2027. Sadauskienė is currently in custody until October 21. The prosecutor has asked the court to extend her detention by a further three months, with a decision due on October 16.

Sadauskas disappeared on the morning of April 20 after travelling to Paliukai village in Panevėžys district to install a trampoline that had been ordered. His body was found buried at a homestead in the village the next day, and a firearm was also found there. Prosecutors say the crime may have stemmed from personal disagreements. Sadauskas and Sadauskienė were going through divorce proceedings at the time; the process was later ended after one of them died.