Caracal case: Gheorghe Dinca gets final 30-year jail sentence for murder

The Craiova Court of Appeal ruled a final prison sentence of 30 years for Gheorghe Dinca in the case targeting the kidnapping, rape and murder of two teenage girls in the town of Caracal, Olt county, Agerpres reported. He stood trial for murder, human trafficking and other crimes.

Dinca’s accomplice, Stefan Risipiteanu, was also sentenced to 12 years in jail for rape.

Gheorghe Dinca was sent to court in 2020 for human trafficking, child trafficking, aggravated murder, rape and desecration of corpses. Last September, the Olt Tribunal also sentenced him to 30 years in prison, but the decision was not final.

The Caracal case shocked Romania in 2019 when first reports appeared about the Police having discovered human remains in a barrel at Gheorghe Dinca’s house. As the investigation unfolded, more terrible details emerged, pointing to the kidnapping, rape and murder of young Luiza Melencu and Alexandra Macesanu. Both girls went missing after hitchhiking.

Anti-organized crime (DIICOT) prosecutors said Dinca kidnapped 18-year-old Luiza Melencu on April 14, 2019, and took her to his house in Caracal, where he raped her several times.

In July of the same year, he also kidnapped 15-year-old Alexandra Macesanu from Dobrosloveni commune, Olt county, and took her to his home. The second victim was also tied to the bed with a chain and raped. However, she managed to call the emergency number 112 and alert the authorities. Police officers raided the house of the main suspect, Gheorghe Dinca, on the morning of July 26, but Alexandra was no longer there. The Police were highly criticized at the time for their delayed response.

Dinca initially admitted to killing both girls and burning their bodies to hide the crime. However, he later changed his mind and denied the murders.

(Photo source: Inquam Photos/Bogdan Danescu)