Lithuanian criminologist: Paramedic’s murder an exceptionally rare crime

A court in Lithuania has remanded two suspects in custody over the killing of a paramedic in Panevėžys, while a third was released on bail, as criminologists describe the case as an unusually complex and premeditated crime, LRT reports.

On Thursday, a court ruled that Vilius Solkanas and Justina Gaigalaitė—the latter being the ex-wife of the murdered paramedic Mantas Sadauskas—will be held for two months pending investigation. A third suspect, identified as Solkanas’ father, was released on a €5,000 bail. All three face charges: Solkanas and Gaigalaitė for unlawful detention and intentional homicide, while the third suspect is accused of illegal firearm possession after a weapon was found on his property.

Gintautas Sakalauskas, a criminologist at Vilnius University, told LRT that the case stands out as highly unusual in Lithuania’s crime statistics. “Out of around 80 homicides annually, most stem from spontaneous conflicts. Female involvement in murders is rare—only about 10% of cases—and group participation is even rarer. Premeditated killings are exceptionally uncommon, with just a few cases per year,” he said.

Sakalauskas noted that the methods allegedly used to conceal the crime—such as burying or burning the body—were “primitive” and unlikely to succeed long-term. “People who kill often assume hiding a body on private property will go unnoticed, but victims are part of society. Their absence is reported, conflicts resurface, and investigations begin,” he explained.

The criminologist also highlighted gender differences in homicide patterns. While men typically kill acquaintances or strangers, women more often target intimate partners, usually in sudden, emotionally charged conflicts. “If this woman was involved, such cases [where a wife kills her husband] are common—but premeditation is extremely rare. Usually, it’s a sudden act, perhaps after drinking, driven by grief or self-defense,” he said.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the paramedic may have been fatally beaten at a rural property. Gaigalaitė’s lawyer maintains her client denies all charges.