William Unek

Mass murderer

57known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: Tanganyika
Location: Mahagi, Belgian Congo / Malampaka, Tanganyika
Date of birth: ???
Characteristics: spree killer, police officer
Victim profile: Men, women and children
Method of murder: Shooting - Hitting with ax - Fire
Date(s) of murder: 1954 / 1957
Years active: 1954–1957
Date of arrest: —
Status: Died from wounds suffered in a fire caused by the police on February 21, 1957

Case Summary

Case record: William Unek

Background

William Unek was an African police constable and mass murderer.

The offence

Unek carried out two separate spree killings three years apart, killing a total of 57 people.

His first murder spree occurred near Mahagi, Belgian Congo in 1954, where he killed 21 people with an axe. After the killings, he escaped and later ended up in Tanganyika.

Unek then began a second rampage in the early hours of February 11, 1957. He was armed with a stolen police rifle, 50 rounds of ammunition and an axe. The killings took place in the area of Malampaka, a village about 40 miles southeast of Mwanza.

Within twelve hours, Unek shot dead ten men, eight women and eight children. He murdered five more men with the axe, stabbed another one, burned two women and a child, and strangled a 15-year-old girl. This brought the total killings during the spree in that period to 36 people before he fled.

Investigation and manhunt

For nine days, Unek was sought by Wasukuma tribesmen, police, and eventually a company of the King's African Rifles in Tanganyika's greatest manhunt up to that time.

The search operation included dogs and aircraft. A posted reward of $350 was offered. Despite the extensive search, Unek eluded his pursuers.

Arrest attempt and death

Unek eventually showed up at the house of a certain Iyumbu, who lived only two miles away from Malampaka, in search for food.

After Iyumbu reported the incident to police, he was asked to keep Unek with him and notify police if the killer came again to his home.

Unek reappeared at about 1 a.m. the next day. Iyumbu sent his wife to police and gave Unek food. He engaged in a conversation with Unek for nearly two hours until help arrived.

When Iyumbu ran out of his house, a Police Superintendent threw a smoke bomb, setting the house on fire. Unek was injured while attempting to evade capture and later succumbed to his wounds in hospital.

Outcome

Unek died from wounds suffered in a fire caused by the police on February 21, 1957.

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